What best describes negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and common contraindications?

What best describes negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and common contraindications?

• A. NPWT uses controlled negative pressure to remove exudate and promote granulation; indications include large chronic wounds, burns, and dehisced wounds.
• B. NPWT uses positive pressure to dry the wound.
• C. NPWT uses heat to sterilize the wound.
• D. NPWT is a topical antibiotic cream.

Answer: (A)

Positive, controlled negative pressure is the key idea here. NPWT applies suction to the wound bed to pull excess fluid (exudate) away, reduce edema, and mechanically stretch the tissue. That pulling action helps draw wound edges together and stimulates granulation tissue formation while boosting local blood flow, which collectively speeds healing. This description fits well with its common uses: large or chronic wounds, wounds that have dehisced, and certain burns where promoting rapid granulation is beneficial. Those indications reflect how the therapy supports wound bed preparation and closure. Contraindications you’d see with NPWT include situations where applying suction could cause harm, such as necrotic tissue that hasn’t been debrided, exposed blood vessels or organs, exposed anastomotic sites, untreated osteomyelitis or uncontrolled infection, and wounds with malignancy. In those scenarios, the therapy could worsen tissue damage or spread disease, so it isn’t used. The other options don’t describe NPWT: using suction to apply positive pressure, using heat to sterilize, or applying a topical antibiotic cream are different approaches and not how NPWT works.

Positive, controlled negative pressure is the key idea here. NPWT applies suction to the wound bed to pull excess fluid (exudate) away, reduce edema, and mechanically stretch the tissue. That pulling action helps draw wound edges together and stimulates granulation tissue formation while boosting local blood flow, which collectively speeds healing.

This description fits well with its common uses: large or chronic wounds, wounds that have dehisced, and certain burns where promoting rapid granulation is beneficial. Those indications reflect how the therapy supports wound bed preparation and closure.

Contraindications you’d see with NPWT include situations where applying suction could cause harm, such as necrotic tissue that hasn’t been debrided, exposed blood vessels or organs, exposed anastomotic sites, untreated osteomyelitis or uncontrolled infection, and wounds with malignancy. In those scenarios, the therapy could worsen tissue damage or spread disease, so it isn’t used.

The other options don’t describe NPWT: using suction to apply positive pressure, using heat to sterilize, or applying a topical antibiotic cream are different approaches and not how NPWT works.