Retrospective comparison of negative-pressure wound therapy and silver-coated foam dressings in open-wound treatment in cats

Nolff, Mirja Christine; Fehr, Michael; Reese, Sven ; Meyer-Lindenberg, Andrea E (1. April 2016): Retrospective comparison of negative-pressure wound therapy and silver-coated foam dressings in open-wound treatment in cats. In: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of complicated wounds in cats. Methods Twenty cats undergoing open-wound treatment in two clinics were classed according to treatment method: NPWT (group A, n = 10) and polyurethane foam dressing (group B, n = 10). Pairs of patients from each group were matched based on wound conformation, localisation and underlying cause. Cats from both groups were compared in terms of duration of previous treatment, time to closure and complications. Results Signalment, duration of previous treatment, antibiotic and antiseptic treatment, and bacterial status were comparable between groups. Total time to wound closure was significantly shorter (P = 0.046, strong effect size; Cohen d = 0.8) in group A (25.8 days, range 11.0–57.0 days) compared with group B (39.5 days, range 28.0–75.0 days). NPWT-treated wounds suffered fewer complications and became septic less frequently during treatment compared with wounds treated with a foam dressing. The progression of fat tissue necrosis was particularly well controlled under NPWT, resulting in fewer deaths due to this condition in this group. However, although a strong effect of NPWT on the progression of infection, fever and sepsis was detected (Cramer-V 0.5), this difference was not significant. Conclusions and relevance This study demonstrated that time to healing was considerably shorter, and complication rate lower, in NPWT-treated animals compared with foam dressing-treated cats. In particular, the effective management of infection by NPWT emphasises the value of NPWT in the treatment of cats suffering from infected wounds.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Faculties: Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Medicine > Department of Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Medicine > Department of Veterinary Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Anatomie, Histologie und Embryologie; Veterinary Medicine > Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1098-612X
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English