Use of a Polymeric Skin Protectant to Facilitate Vacuum Seal Under NPWT

Abstract Body: Ensuring a sufficient seal is critical to successful Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). Obtaining sufficient seal can be problematic when applying NPWT drapes over fragile or otherwise wet or denuded skin. A recently launched cyanoacrylate based polymeric barrier film (CASP*) has been used to attachment to wet, weepy, damaged skin in clinical practice.1

The study described was undertaken to assess whether CASP would enable the achievement of a successful seal in damaged, wet or weepy tissue. Initially CASP was applied to ex vivo porcine skin. When dry, NPWT drape strips** were placed over the CASP. At t=1h following drape application, drapes were removed using a peel force tester and peel force was recorded. Peel force for drapes without CASP application was recorded as control. In a second set of experiments, partial thickness wounds were created in live animals. CASP was applied to this tissue and allowed to dry. After drying, NPWT dressings were placed and attached to a vacuum source. After 1 hour, the dressings were assessed for leakage and any drape lift was noted.

Drapes were then removed using a peel force tester and peel force was recorded. Dressings under which CASP wasn’t applied served as controls. Initial results show that peel force increases when CASP is used under NPWT dressings. CASP may serve as a good alternative to crusting and other methods used to obtain a secure seal for NPWT dressings over damaged tissue.