Running Head: ARTICLE REVIEW 1

Article Review

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Article: Jeffers, A. M., Maxson, P. M., Thompson, S. L., McCormack, H. E., & Cima, R. R.

(2014). Combined negative pressure wound therapy and ultrasonic MIST therapy for open

surgical wounds: A case series. Journal of Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing, 41(2), 181-

186.

This paper aims to provide a critical analysis of a research paper Combined Negative

Pressure Wound Therapy and Ultrasonic MIST Therapy for Open Surgical Wounds: A Case

Series by Jeffers et al. The authors of this article explore new emerging tools and techniques in

the treatment of surgical wounds. Such wounds are normally at risk of increased septicity when

left open to heal through secondary intent, and this could lead to an increased hospital stay,

increased expenses, higher readmission rates as well as other complications (Federman et al.,

2016). In particular, the authors discuss two recent techniques for treating open wounds namely

noncontact low-frequency ultrasound (NCLFU) treatment and negative pressure wound therapy

(NPWT) that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of open surgical wounds.

Undoubtedly, this is a well-written article since it concise and does not contain jargons or

difficult phrases that may be confusing to the reader. The layout and presentation of study

findings are excellent and done in an orderly manner as is expected in academic style of writing.

The credibility of the article also seems to be high given the way the study involved the use of

patient data gathered from 4 admitted patients who received colorectal surgery resulting in open

abdominal wounds. In spite of the lack of specific problem statement, the objectives and purpose

of this research are distinct. The objective of the paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the

two emerging techniques NCLFU and NPWT in the treatment of open surgical wounds.
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Due to the lack of a specific theoretical framework, I believe the most discernable

framework in this research is a conceptual framework since there is no particular theoretical

model or framework that is related to the focus of this research is provided. On the other hand,

the researchers note that the data of four patients with complex disorders and ended up

undergoing colorectal surgery leading to open abdominal wounds were used as the sample in the

study, although no specific sampling method is given. Data collection and analysis was done

through a retrospective review of medical records of patients who were treated with NCLFU and

NPWT.

The authors also state that consent was received from the Mayo Clinic Institutional

Review Board before conducting an analysis of the four patients. As such, the authors clearly

followed the ethical requirements while researching patients past medical histories although the

patients should have also been informed of the intention to use their data, including pictures in

the study. A background search on the researchers shows that they have relevant academic

qualifications to undertake this research although there is sufficient evidence that proves they

had relevant experience in the area of surgical wound management. However, since it was a

very small study, it could perhaps be used as a pilot study towards conducting more

comprehensive and in-depth research of the use of NCLFU and NPWT in surgical wound

treatment.

Surgical wounds that become infected during primary closure are normally differed, and

a more dedicated wound management procedure is usually adopted to resolve infection prior to

secondary closure (Ennis et al., 2016). However, ideal procedures used in preparing such wounds

for a secondary closure process are still not well defined. In response to this complex issue, the

researchers provide a solution in which they argue that a combination of treatments through
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NCLFU and NPWT therapies can be used in enhancing the healing of open abdominal wounds.

Yadollahpour et al., (2014) note that NPWT, when applied in combination with NCLFU therapy,

can be an effective method for the treatment of open surgical wounds, which in turn could

promote and enhance the healing of open surgical wounds.

The general implications, therefore, is that the application of these two techniques

according to the recommended guidelines could help nurses and other health practitioners

involved in surgical wound care enhance wound healing (Ennis et al., 2016). This, in turn, will

reduce the length of patient hospital stay, increased expenses, higher readmission rates as well as

other complications (Federman et al., 2016). However, the sample size used in this study was not

adequate to warrant such recommendations for its adoption into practice. Nonetheless, the

findings from this study can be utilized in forming a basis for other more comprehensive and in-

depth studies towards determining the effectiveness of the above techniques in treating open

surgical wounds.
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References

Ennis, W. J., Lee, C., Gellada, K., Corbiere, T. F., & Koh, T. J. (2016). Advanced Technologies

to Improve Wound Healing: Electrical Stimulation, Vibration Therapy, and Ultrasound

What Is the Evidence?. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 138(3S), 94S-104S.

Federman, D. G., Ladiiznski, B., Dardik, A., Kelly, M., Shapshak, D., Ueno, C. M., ... & Hopf,

H. W. (2016). Wound healing society 2014 update on guidelines for arterial

ulcers. Wound repair and regeneration, 24(1), 127-135.

Yadollahpour, A., Mostafa, J., Samaneh, R., & Zohreh, R. (2014). Ultrasound therapy for wound

healing: A review of current techniques and mechanisms of action. J Pure Appl

Microbio, 8(5), 4071-85.