A Modified Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Reduces the Occurrence of Tension Blisters Around Negative Pressure Dressings.

Background: To date, there is no effective solution for preventing the formation of blisters around negative-pressure wound dressings. In this study, we aim to address this problem and identify techniques to improve the negative-pressure drainage technique. Methods: A total of 129 patients from 2021.11 to 2022.11 who were previously treated in Fuyang People's Hospital were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients had negative-pressure drainage dressings applied to their wounds after undergoing thorough wound debridement. The patients were divided into the following groups: a traditional treatment group and a modified treatment group. The traditional treatment group comprised 60 patients who received negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and a modified treatment group comprised 69 patients who received NPWT plus Vaseline gauze. The dressing coverage area, wound location, incidence of blisters around the dressing 3 days after NPWT, wound infection rate, and length of hospitalization were recorded. The incidence of blisters, wound infection rate, and wound location in the 2 groups were included as the categorical data and were compared using a chi-squared test. The dressing coverage area and length of hospitalization in the 2 groups were included as the quantitative data and were compared using an independent samples t test or with the Mann-Whitney test if the data were abnormally distributed. Results: The incidence rates of blisters in the traditional and modified treatment groups were 33.3% (20/60) and 13.0% (9/69), respectively, displaying a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 7.581, P = .006). The infection rates of the 2 groups were 38.3% (23/60) and 20.3% (14/69), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 5.108; P = .024). The lengths of hospitalization in the 2 groups were 26.05 ± 14.74 days and 18.17 ± 7.54 days, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (t = 3.892; P = .000). The dressing coverage areas were 150 cm2 (88.75 cm2, 600 cm2) and 150 cm2 (124 cm2, 600 cm2), respectively, showing no statistical difference (P = .759). Conclusion: Modified NPWT can effectively reduce the incidence of blisters, length of hospitalization, and infection rate of patients.

Adverse effects reported in pulsed dye laser treatment for port wine stains.

A retrospective study was conducted over a 762-day period to investigate the incidence of adverse effects following pulsed dye laser treatment for port wine stains using the Chromos 585 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL). Treatment energy densities typically ranged from 4.0 J/cm(2) to 7.5 J/cm(2). Treatment was predominantly delivered as a 7 mm-diameter pulse of laser light, although a 5 mm pulse was occasionally used. Nine patients experienced one adverse event each, with scabbing, blistering (prolonged in one case that persisted for more than 2 months), hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation; one of the nine patients developed both blistering and hypopigmentation. The incidence of adverse effects per treatment was 1.4% (1.7% for adults and 0.6% for children). The lower leg was the most common site for an adverse effect; four out of 22 patients (18%) receiving PDL treatment for lower leg port wine stains (PWSs) suffered an adverse effect (three cases of hyperpigmentation and one of hypopigmentation and blistering). Four patients suffered an adverse effect following an increase in the energy density of the laser treatment. There was no statistically significant correlation between laser performance and the occurrence of adverse effects.