Novel foam dressing using negative pressure wound therapy with instillation to remove thick exudate

We describe our experience with a novel foam dressing architecture in tandem with negative pressure wound therapy and instillation (NPWTi‐d) for removing viscous wound exudate and infectious materials. A retrospective review was conducted of the outcomes of 21 patients who received NPWTi‐d using a reticulated open cell foam instillation dressing with through holes (ROCF‐CC) designed to facilitate the removal of thick wound exudate and infectious materials. NPWTi‐d with ROCF‐CC was used to treat large complex chronic wounds with viscous wound exudate that contained substantial areas of devitalised tissue. Debridement was performed as appropriate or available. NPWTi‐d with ROCF‐CC assisted in loosening, solubilising and detaching viscous exudate, dry fibrin, wet slough and other infectious materials. Percent surface area of black non‐viable tissue and yellow fibrinous slough was reduced to ≤ 10% in 18/21 (85·7%) and 12/21 (57·1%) wounds, respectively, after an average of 1–3 applications (3–9 days) of NPWTi‐d with ROCF‐CC. Preliminary evidence suggests that adjunctive use of NPWTi‐d with ROCF‐CC may help clean large, complex wounds when complete surgical debridement is not possible or appropriate and/or when areas of slough and non‐viable tissue remain present on the wound surface.