European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy - Defining its Role in Pressure Ulcer Management

John Posnett and David Gray

Smith & Nephew Wound Management

The incidence of pressure ulcers is a major source of morbidity and escalating healthcare costs for many countries in Europe, not to mention the rest of the world. In 1999-2000 the cost of pressure ulcer care in the UK was between £1.4 and £2.1 billion; this was broadly equal to total NHS expenditure on mental illness, or the total cost of community health services. Education regarding effective prevention and appropriate treatment is therefore crucial.

Over the past few years we have seen a growth in technologies that have their place in providing an effective clinical solution to complex wounds and pressure ulcers. One of these is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and after several years of clinical usage we now have a very good opportunity to review its role as part of the journey of care in pressure ulcer management.

In this symposium John Posnett will begin by looking closely at the some of the real costs behind pressure ulcer treatment. Wound care costs can be hidden within other diagnostic categories; this is certainly true of pressure ulcers, taking for example the rehabilitation costs for patients with compromised mobility.

Clinicians have an increasing need to be aware of cost effectiveness while trying to initiate the best care possible within their communities. TIME provides a framework and educational model for treating complex wounds. Lynne Watret will discuss this within the context of negative pressure wound therapy; where it should start, where it should stop, and where it might sit within any overall care plan for our patients.

Finally, David Gray will discuss his experience with VISTA, a simple, gentle and cost effective device for negative pressure wound therapy that Smith & Nephew has recently added to its portfolio. David will conclude by offering some suggestions as to where it fits among the clinician’s therapeutic options for pressure ulcer management now and in the future.

We believe that a review and discussion on the role of negative pressure wound therapy for pressure ulcer treatment is very timely, and hope that you will agree by joining our symposium and more importantly joining in the discussions that will follow our presentations.