The therapy involves placing a specialized dressing over the wound and connecting it to a vacuum pump, which creates a vacuum environment around the wound.

The vacuum dressing system typically consists of the following components:

1. Wound Dressing: The dressing itself is made of a porous, foam-like material that conforms to the wound’s shape and allows even distribution of negative pressure across the wound bed.

2. Drainage Tubing: A tube is used to connect the wound dressing to the vacuum pump, which creates the negative pressure.

3. Vacuum Pump: The pump generates a controlled negative pressure that removes excess fluid (exudate) from the wound and helps in reducing swelling.

The application of negative pressure offers several benefits for wound healing:

1. Removal of Excess Fluid: The vacuum removes excess wound fluid, reducing swelling and promoting a clean wound environment.

2. Improved Blood Flow: The negative pressure helps to increase blood flow to the wound, which brings oxygen and essential nutrients to support the healing process.

3. Enhanced Tissue Granulation: NPWT promotes the formation of granulation tissue, a crucial step in wound healing.

4. Protection from Infection: The vacuum environment can help protect the wound from external contaminants and bacterial infection.

5. Wound Contraction: NPWT may aid in wound contraction, reducing the wound’s size over time.

Vacuum dressings are often used for various types of wounds, including pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, surgical wounds, traumatic injuries, and chronic wounds. The therapy is usually administered by healthcare professionals, and the dressing must be changed regularly to ensure proper wound management.