[Taiwan] Palliative care with negative pressure wound therapy application in malignant wounds: a systematic review

[Taiwan] Palliative care with negative pressure wound therapy application in malignant wounds: a systematic review
Journal of Wound Care; by Xiao-Feng Yao, Yen-Jen Wang, Yang-Sheng Lin; 4/25
Of 765 articles screened, 14 eligible studies were included in the review. The location of the hard-to-heal wounds was widely distributed: five wounds on the scalp; three wounds over the anogenital area; and the remaining wounds on the trunk and extremities. The reported outcomes included: improvement of wound healing; decreased exudation and malodour of the wound; decreased pain sensation; eligibility for further treatment; and a shift to the homecare system. The findings of this study suggested NPWT [negative pressure wound therapy] could be a choice in palliative care for patients with malignant wounds. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT in these wounds.