What does the negative-pressure wound therapy system do?

The negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system plays a crucial role in wound management, particularly by creating mechanical tension on tissues and pulling wound edges together. This process helps to approximate the edges of the wound, promoting closure and reducing the size of the wound. The suction generated by the NPWT system removes excess fluid from the wound area, which can lead to improved tissue perfusion and enhanced healing conditions.

Increasing blood flow to the area, while beneficial for healing, is not the primary mechanism of how NPWT works. Instead, it offers a more localized approach by creating a negative pressure environment around the wound. Preventing any type of infection is an important aspect of wound care, but NPWT does not guarantee complete infection prevention as it may not directly address microbial presence. Acceleration of granulation tissue formation is a potential outcome of using NPWT, but it specifically focuses on the mechanics of tissue tension and edge approximation, which is its fundamental operation.