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CASE STUDY
Closed Surgical Incision – 10-day Treatment
Patient
- 45-year-old female.
- Breast cancer patient – mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction using a total latissimus dorsi flap.
Wound
- 21 cm surgical incision. Skin closed stitched with resorbable subcuticular sutures.
- The wound broke down and was measured at (L) 6 cm x (W) 2 cm with extensive undermining.
Management & Results
- The Avelle™ NPWT System with the 12x31cm dressing was applied on day 2, and the dressing was changed on days 5, 7 and 10 postoperatively, at which point NPWT was discontinued.
- The wound showed improvement, measuring (L) 6 cm x (W) 1.5 cm, exudate in the drain remained stable. The wound had dried up; dead tissue had been successfully debrided and the peri-wound skin was less purple.

Figure 1: Day 1

Figure 2: Avelle™ NPWT Dressing in situ

Figure 3: Postoperative Day 7