Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT/VAC therapy) promotes wound healing through all of the following mechanisms EXCEPT:

• A Mechanical micro-deformation stimulating cell proliferation
• B Increasing local tissue oxygen tension through hyperoxygenation ✓
• C Removal of exudate reducing bacterial burden
• D Promoting angiogenesis through VEGF upregulation

Explanation

NPWT promotes wound healing through: (1) mechanical micro-deformation of wound bed cells stimulating mitosis; (2) exudate removal reducing bacterial colonization and inflammatory mediators; (3) wound edge approximation (macrodeformation); and (4) enhanced perfusion and angiogenesis via VEGF upregulation. NPWT does NOT increase tissue oxygen tension through hyperoxygenation — rather, the intermittent ischemia-reperfusion effect of NPWT cycling stimulates angiogenesis as an adaptive response to relative hypoxia. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the modality that delivers hyperoxygenation to wounds.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.