KCI Initiates Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation Randomized Controlled Study

Study to Compare Traditional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy, using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced today the initiation of patient enrollment in a multi-center clinical study assessing the benefits of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with intermittent instillation therapy with a topical wound cleanser. The randomized, controlled prospective study involves six investigative centers across the United States and compares traditional NPWT with V.A.C.® Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to adjunctive treatment with V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System for wounds that require hospital admission and serial surgical debridement.

This study follows an independent retrospective, historical cohort-controlled study recently presented at the 2013 Technology Innovations in Plastic Surgery meeting in San Francisco, California by physicians from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Center for Wound Healing, led by Christopher E. Attinger, M.D., Chief, Division of Wound Healing1. These results, involving 142 patients, assessed the effectiveness of NPWT with V.A.C.® Therapy compared to V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System in the adjunctive treatment of wounds that required hospital admission and serial surgical debridement.

The results suggested a significant decrease in operating room visits for study patients who received V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System. Further, the investigators reported a trend toward a two- to three-day reduction in hospital stay compared to traditional V.A.C.® Therapy in these patients.

“Because of the encouraging Georgetown University study results, we are excited to be initiating a study that will take a more careful look at the negative pressure wound therapy with intermittent dwelling of instillation,” said Ron Silverman, M.D., chief medical officer, KCI. “This study further demonstrates the KCI commitment to and investment in the new future of NPWT with instillation therapy and better treatment solutions for our customers and patients.”

Source: BusinessWire