A Study on Outcomes of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Wound Healing Among Distinct Group of NSTI Patients

Abstract

Introduction- Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI), is a rapidly progressing, life threatening condition, and requires prompt diagnosis and management, primarily involving surgical debridement leaving behind a raw area to be further managed.

Methodology- The prospective study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Meenakshi Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Kanchipuram on all patients admitted with NSTI undergoing surgical debridement.. Sample size was 20, calculated using G Power software consisting 10 patients in study group ie, Group I -NPWT and 10 patients in control group ie, Group II - CPID. Association between qualitative variables will be analyzed using the chi square test. Association between quantitative variables was  analyzed using an independent sample t test. Significance level will be fixed at a p value of <0.05.

Results- Average age of patients in study group was 53.6 years while in conventional dressing group it was 52.8 years.  Male to female ratio was high in both groups with 100% males in control group and 90% males in the study group. Most common type of NSTI observed in present study was traumatic cause (70%) & infective cause (30%).

Conclusion- Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is presently being recommended as the treatment of choice for chronic ulcers.