Introduction: Achieving and maintaining a seal when applying tNPWTcan often prove problematic in clinical practice, particularly in certain wound indications and presentations. The aim of this case series is to share how certain dressing application techniquesand/or adjunctive dressings,canbe adopted to accomplish successful delivery of tNPWT.
Methods: Seven retrospective, anonymized casesare presented across a range of wound indications includingisolating abdominal fistula, external fixators, trauma wounds andopen surgical wounds in awkward anatomical locations.
Results: The casesdemonstratesuccessful application techniques and adjunctive dressings to achieve and maintain a seal when applying tNPWT. These include ‘bridging’ and ‘sandwich’ applications. The use of adjunctive dressings including how to use stoma rings/paste, gel strips, adapting the application of the film drape and skin preparations.
Discussion: The techniques and recommendations demonstrated in this case series are efficacious and safe approaches to attain a reliable seal. They can reduce supply costs from additional dressing changes due to reapplication of tNPWT due to loss of a seal, decrease clinician frustration and optimize wound healing outcomes that may be caused by interruption of NPWT. In the authors’ experience, these recommendations have proved very successful, and patients have tolerated these adaptions very well. Through the objective to reduce the incidence of leaks and shorten the time required to apply NPWT, the authorsof this case series provide helpful insights for clinicians to consider in their own clinical practice.