PubMed Improvised Wound Vac

Here is a paper that was published in August 2024 discussing the use of an improvised wound vacuum for gunshot wounds in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It showed the benefit of Negative Pressure Therapy (NPT).

How do I build an NPT?

1. Aggressively and meticulously debride and irrigate the wound to remove necrotic tissue.

2. Fill the wound with wet-to-dry dressings.

3. Place the suction tube close to the bottom of the wound but not touching the wound. Make sure to cut additional fenestrations in order to reduce tube clogging.

4. Cover the tube with more moist dressings.

5. Cover with ClingWrap or another waterproof membrane. Tape the edges for an airtight seal; do not circumferentially wrap the tape.

6. Use a device to create 120 mmHg of negative pressure. A Toomey tip syringe and haemostats can be used. Remove air from the wound and clamp the tube whenever you remove air from the syringe. Keep removing air until it is difficult to pull back on the plunger of the syringe. Clamp the tube with the haemostats.

7. Check the negative pressure by pulling back on the plunger of the syringe every fifteen minutes.

Benefits of NPT

The beneficial impact of NPT on wound healing is attributed to several factors. NPT effectively removes excess wound exudates, which contain elements that hinder the activity of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes. Additionally, NPT reduces the oedema surrounding the wound, leading to the dilation of nearby blood vessels and an increase in blood flow to the area, which supports the formation of granulation tissue.

The Bottom Line: Be a Better Medic. Learn how to create an NPT device.