Systematic review of the negative pressure wound therapy in kidney transplant recipients

AIM: To review negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as an important addition to the conventional methods of wound management. METHODS: A systematic review, performed by searching the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases, showed 11 case reports comprising a total of 22 kidney transplantation (KT) patients (range, 1 to 9), who were treated with NPWT. Application of NPWT was associated with successful healing of wounds, leg ulcer, lymphocele and urine leak from ileal conduit. RESULTS: No complications related to NPWT were reported. However, there was paucity of robust data on the effectiveness of NPWT in KT recipients; therefore, prospective studies assessing its safety and efficacy of NPWT and randomised trials comparing the effectiveness of NPWT with alternative modalities of wound management in KT recipients is recommended. CONCLUSION: Negative pressure incision management system, NPWT with instillation and endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure system are in investigational stage.