The diploma thesis entitled Specific needs of patients during negative pressure wound therapy, consists of two main parts, a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part includes findings from research and publications dealing with the issues of wound healing through local application of vacuum therapy, treatment with other methods of wet healing, the impact of long-term non-healing wounds on human needs and the role of the nurse in this scenario. The practical part of the diploma thesis refers to the quantitative research carried out by 46 respondents who were treated with a negative vacuum method, another method of wet healing or a combined form.

Introdução: O tratamento de feridas cutâneas é difícil e está em contínua mudança. Entre as múltiplas terapias empregadas uma bastante usada é a enxertia de pele autógena. Sabe-se que o sucesso desta técnica depende, em parte, de haver condições adequadas no leito receptor e da qualidade do enxerto de pele retirado. Ainda, tão importante quanto a técnica cirúrgica, é o método para fixação do enxerto de pele ao leito e respectivo cuidado pós-operatório. Tem sido frequente o uso da terapia de feridas por pressão subatmosférica para fixação e integração de enxertos de pele no tratamento de feridas e habitualmente se coloca uma tela entre a esponja e o enxerto. Não há padronização na literatura médica sobre o que utilizar na tela. Objetivo: Comparar duas telas utilizadas e aferir o quanto cada uma interferia na pressão subatmosférica gerada pela unidade de aspiração contínua da terapia de feridas por pressão subatmosférica, por sua vez configurada para gerar um gradiente de pressão de 125 mmHg em relação à pressão atmosférica ambiente. Métodos: Foram realizados inicialmente dois estudos em voluntários normais para aferir a pressão subatmosférica sob a tela de rayon e sob a tela de poliamida, sobre a pele íntegra. Em um grupo de 30 indivíduos, as medidas foram feitas em tempos diferentes, montando-se e desmontando-se todo conjunto da esponja e de determinada tela sucessivas vezes. Em outro grupo de 15 indivíduos, as medidas foram feitas sequencialmente e com as sondas colocadas em conjunto, sendo metade da esponja sobre a tela de rayon e a outra metade sobre a tela de poliamida. A seguir, foi realizado estudo prospectivo com 30 pacientes portadores de feridas complexas, nos quais a terapia de feridas por pressão subatmosférica foi aplicada. Foram utilizadas tela de rayon e tela de poliamida em cada metade da área enxertada sobre a ferida. A pressão subatmosférica foi aferida sob cada tela e sob a esponja. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as pressões sob as duas telas estudadas e em relação à pressão sob a esponja. Houve apenas uma perda completa de enxerto de pele. Conclusão: Concluiu-se que as diferentes telas estudadas reduziram a pressão subatmosférica gerada pelo dispositivo de aspiração contínua da Terapia de Feridas por Pressão Subatmosférica (TFPS) em comparação com a pressão medida como controle. / Introduction: Wound care is a difficult and ever changing field. Among many therapies employed, autogenous skin grafting is often used. The quality of the skin graft and appropriate conditions of the recipient bed are paramount for the success of this surgical procedure. Moreover, the method of skin graft fixation and postoperative care are as important as the surgical technique itself. Hence, subatmospheric pressure wound therapy has been used in the process of fixation and integration of skin grafts in the treatment of wounds when there is frequently a layer between the sponge and the graft. Thus far there has been no standardization in the medical literature as to which layer to use. Objective: Compare two layers and measure how much each one alone interfered in the subatmospheric pressure generated by the pump used in subatmospheric pressure wound therapy, when set to generate a pressure gradient of 125 mmHg in relation to the atmospheric pressure of the surroundings. Methods: Two pilot studies were, therefore, undertaken of normal volunteers to ascertain the subatmospheric pressure under the rayon layer, under the polyamide layer and under the sponge. In one pilot study, of a total of 30 individuals, their measurements were taken in different moments and the setting was mounted and unmounted three times. In another, of 15 individuals, the measurements were collected within just one setting, as half of the sponge had rayon underlying it and the other half had polyamide beneath it. Therefore another prospective study was undertaken of 30 patients bearers of complex wounds in which both the rayon and the polyamide layer was used for each half of the skin grafted area The subatmospheric pressure measured under each layer and directly under the sponge (control measure) was assessed. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between the pressure measured on the two layers studied and the pressure measured under the sponge. There was only one total skin graft loss. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was found that the different layers studied did reduce the subatmospheric pressure generated by the pump used in subatmospheric pressure wound therapy as compared with the respective control measure.

Background: Topical negative pressure wound therapy (TNPWT) is a regularly used method in modern wound treatment with a growing and diverse potential for clinical use. So far positive effects on microcirculation have been observed and examined, although precise statements on the underlying mechanism appear unsatisfying. Objective: The aim of our study was to extend the understanding of the effect of TNPWT on tissue perfusion and determine the time frame and the extent to which the tissue perfusion changes due to TNPWT. Material and methods: TNPWT was applied to the anterior thighs of 40 healthy individuals for 30 min, respectively. Before and up to 90 min after the application, measurements of the amount of regional haemoglobin (rHb), capillary venous oxygen saturation (sO2), blood flow (flow) and velocity were conducted with spectrophotometry (combining white light spectrometry and laser Doppler spectroscopy) within two different depths/skin layers. A superficial measuring probe for depths up to 3 mm and a deep measuring probe for up to 7 mm were used. Results: All parameters show significant changes after the intervention compared to baseline measurements. The greater effect was seen superficially. The superficially measured rHb, sO2 and flow showed a significant increase and stayed above the baseline at the end of the protocol. Whereas deeply measured, the rHb initially showed a decrease. The flow and sO2 showed a significant increase up to 60 min after the intervention. Conclusion: The application of TNPWT on healthy tissue shows an increase in capillary-venous oxygen saturation and haemoglobin concentration of at least 90 min after intervention. A possible use in clinical practice for preconditioning to enhance wound healing for high-risk patients to develop wound healing disorder, requires further studies to investigate the actual duration of the effect.