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Clinical Research
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WOUND PROGRESSION, TREATMENT TIMES AND HEALING OUTCOMES IN MANAGED CARE PATIENTS TREATED WITH First Author: Michael Keith Authors: Michael S Keith, PhD, PharmD Sunni A. Barnes, PhD OBJECTIVE: This analysis describes the wound types, treatment duration and patient outcomes for managed care patients treated with NPWT using the vacuum assisted closure system. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of managed care, home healthcare patients treated with NPWT from 2003 to 2006 was conducted. Wound types, healing progression, treatment times and percent healed are reported. Separately, a trend analysis was conducted evaluating healing proportion and treatment times from 2003 to 2006. RESULTS: The most prevalent wound types, among the 12,388 wounds treated with NPWT, were surgical/trauma (81%) while chronic wounds (diabetic and pressure ulcer) accounted for 19% of treated wounds. Overall, a 74.7% reduction in wound area and a 95% reduction in wound volume was achieved with a median NPWT treatment time of 32 days. Healing occurred in 85% of wounds. The trend analysis revealed that treatment duration with NPWT has decreased, while the proportion of wounds reaching healing status has increased from 2003 to 2006. CONCLUSION: The vacuum assisted closure system appears to result in considerable wound progression and healing outcomes among managed care, home healthcare patients with acute and chronic wounds. Based on this analysis, NPWT treatment duration and wound healing outcomes have improved from 2003 to 2006. *V.A.C.ยจ Therapy, KCI USA, San Antonio, TX |
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