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.