Does a simple modification of the VAC therapy system reduce the daily treatment cost for wounds?

A randomised controlled trial assessing the impact of a modification to the negative pressure wound therapy on total treatment costs for acute and chronic wounds

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN15430640

Enrollment

Registered

2020-01-02

Start date

2016-07-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2022-03-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acute and chronic wounds Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning Acute wound Chronic wound

Interventions

Patients with acute complex wounds or chronic wounds were divided randomly into two groups using randomization generator software. Group A received treatment with conventional negative-pressure wound

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Patients with acute complex or chronic non-healing wounds that required surgical intervention to facilitate healing or closing of the wound

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Malignancy near the wound site 2. Osteomyelitis 3. Peripheral vascular disease

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Duration of therapy, defined as the time needed to get a wound ready for closure either by skin graft of flap. This time determined clinically by the supervising reconstructive surgery consultant depending on the wound bed score, which is an objective method to determine the status of wound and it is readiness for further intervention. This information is recorded in the patient's medical records and separately in the study records. 2. Number of dressings calculated by assuming that the dressing was changed every 3 days as per manufacturing company advice 3. Number of canisters used calculated by the total number of 300-ml canisters used for each patient, which are changed when the Activac device alarm system is activated. The modified NPWT device uses a 1000-ml canister, which is is reusable, so the number of canisters is fixed at one for each patient in this group. This information is recorded in the patient's medical records and separately in the study records. 4. Total treatment cost assessed assessed at the end of therapy duration for each patient separately and for each group, by collecting the cost of disposable canisters, dressing and the rent cost of the Activac device. The cost of each item is determined according to the local hospital bills and global prices.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Duration of therapy, defined as the time needed to get a wound ready for closure either by skin graft of flap. This time determined clinically by the supervising reconstructive surgery consultant depending on the wound bed score, which is an objective method to determine the status of wound and it is readiness for further intervention. This information is recorded in the patient's medical records and separately in the study records. 2. Number of dressings calculated by assuming that the dressing was changed every 3 days as per manufacturing company advice 3. Number of canisters used calculated by the total number of 300-ml canisters used for each patient, which are changed when the Activac device alarm system is activated. The modified NPWT device uses a 1000-ml canister, which is is reusable, so the number of canisters is fixed at one for each patient in this group. This information is recorded in the patient's medical records and separately in the study records. 4. Total treatment cost assessed assessed at the end of therapy duration for each patient separately and for each group, by collecting the cost of disposable canisters, dressing and the rent cost of the Activac device. The cost of each item is determined according to the local hospital bills and global prices.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Patient age determined by reviewing patient medical records 2. Patient sex determined by reviewing patient medical records 3. Location of the wound determined by reviewing patient medical records 4. Associated comorbidities determined by reviewing patient medical records 5. Wound bed score assessed by the supervising reconstructive surgeon at regular intervals (every 3 days during the application of dressing) and the final score determined at the end of the therapy.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Patient age determined by reviewing patient medical records 2. Patient sex determined by reviewing patient medical records 3. Location of the wound determined by reviewing patient medical records 4. Associated comorbidities determined by reviewing patient medical records 5. Wound bed score assessed by the supervising reconstructive surgeon at regular intervals (every 3 days during the application of dressing) and the final score determined at the end of the therapy.

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Countries

Iraq

Contacts

Public ContactSarah Al Youha

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026