Initial clinical experiences with a new, portable, single-use negative pressure wound therapy device.

Since the introduction of negative pressure wound therapy in combination with reticulated open cell foam (NPWT/ROCF) in 1997, the clinical and economic benefits of this therapy have been showed in several randomised-controlled studies. This article describes the clinical application of a new portable NPWT unit. The V.A.C.Via™ Therapy System (KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX) offers continuous negative pressure and dynamic pressure control for wound treatment of low exudating (<80 ml/day), small-to-medium size wounds, grafts and flaps in all care settings, including homecare. We describe four cases in which this new device was successfully used.