To Compare the Effectiveness of Continuous Versus Intermittent Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcerations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a newer noninvasive system that uses controlled negative pressure using vacuum assisted closure (VAC) devices to help promote wound healing by macro – deformation and micro deformation of tissues, reducing edema, promoting formation and perfusion of granulation tissue and stabilisation of wound environment. This study aims at comparing the effectiveness of continuous versus intermittent negative pressure wound therapy in the healing of diabetic foot ulcerations in terms of wound assessment by Bates-Jensen wound assessment scale at Meenakshi medical college.

MATERIALS & METHODS:  This study is carried out at Institute of General Surgery, Private medical college hospital, Kanchipuram. Duration of the study was 1 year between August 2022 and August 2023 to assess the efficacy of intermittent versus continuous negative pressure wound care in the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Study design was done Using the Bates Jensen wound evaluation scale, this randomized control trial compares the healing effects of continuous vs intermittent negative pressure wound care for diabetic foot ulcers. Sample size: Totally 60 patients are taken up in the study, Continuous NPWT (control) Even IP no. 30 patients Intermittent NPWT (cases) Odd IP no. 30 patients . Sixty patients in all were examined and split into study and control groups. Management        Constant VAC Situation           Sporadic VAC

RESULTS: In our investigation, we found that while granulation tissue appeared early in both patient groups, a greater percentage of patients in the Intermittent VAC group reached 100% (full) granulation tissue earlier than in the Continuous VAC group. Approximately 6.7% of patients in the Intermittent VAC group and 3.3% of patients in the Continuous VAC group achieved wound closure on Day 6. Comparably, on Day 9, 33.3% of the Intermittent VAC group and 26.7% of the Continuous VAC group had wound closure.

CONCLUSION: we draw the conclusion that, even though VAC therapy has higher wound closure rates, the application of intermittent VAC therapy is preferred for the healing of diabetic leg ulcers due to a slightly higher proportion of wound closure rates in the intermittent VAC group as compared to the continuous VAC group.