The use of negative pressure wound therapy: Recommendations by the Wound Healing Association of Southern Africa (WHASA)

Open abdomen: An open abdomen is usually the result of trauma, abdominal sepsis, severe, acute pancreatitis and in general situations in which intra-abdominal hypertension develops. The main aim of leaving the abdomen open is to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome, controlling bleeding and preventing contamination.1 This term is generally used in the abdominal wall cannot be closed primarily, regardless of the cause.Dehisced abdominal wound: Dehisced surgical wounds are defined by the separation of the incision line prior to complete healing resulting in an open wound. Dehisced abdominal wound usually implies the wound has split open, but the abdominal wall remains closed. If the latter has dehisced too, then it is an open abdomen. Abdominal wound dehiscence (burst abdomen, fascial dehiscence) is a severe postoperative complication that can result in evisceration, which is a medical emergency.2Conventional dressings: Conventional dressing is a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to protect the wound from further harm but does not necessarily mean that the dressing promotes healing.Advanced dressings: Advanced wound care therapies are focused on keeping the wound moist to encourage healing, following the philosophy that a moist microenvironment promotes the natural healing process.3 Advanced dressings would include those seen in wound classifications, such as that set out in the WHASA wound classification. These include dressings that can aid debridement, manage moisture, treat infection and promote epithelial advancement.4 Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the other hand is seen as a dynamic application.3Deep tissue infection: Deep tissue infection or spreading infection describes the invasion of the surrounding tissue by infective organisms that have spread from a wound. Microorganisms proliferate and spread, to the degree that signs and symptoms extend beyond the wound border. Spreading infection may involve deep tissue, muscle, fascia, organs or body cavity.5Full-thickness burn: When the epidermis and dermis are both destroyed and the burn extends down into the subcutaneous tissue, including fat, muscles and even bones, this is referred to as a full-thickness burn (third- and fourth-degree burn).6Another contributing factor to burn severity is how much of the total body surface area (TBSA) is affected. The “rule of nines” is a method of approximation used to determine what percentage of the body is burned in adults. Partial- or full-th