SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced today the initiation of patient enrollment in a multi-center clinical study assessing the benefits of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with intermittent instillation therapy with a topical wound cleanser. The randomized, controlled prospective study involves six investigative centers across the United States and compares traditional NPWT with V.A.C.^® Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to adjunctive treatment with V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System for wounds that require hospital admission and serial surgical debridement.

This study follows an independent retrospective, historical cohort-controlled study recently presented at the 2013 Technology Innovations in Plastic Surgery meeting in San Francisco, California by physicians from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Center for Wound Healing, led by Christopher E. Attinger, M.D., Chief, Division of Wound Healing¹. These results, involving 142 patients, assessed the effectiveness of NPWT with V.A.C.^® Therapy compared to V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System in the adjunctive treatment of wounds that required hospital admission and serial surgical debridement.

The results suggested a significant decrease in operating room visits for study patients who received V.A.C. VeraFlo™ Instillation Therapy using the V.A.C.Ulta™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System. Further, the investigators reported a trend toward a two- to three-day reduction in hospital stay compared to traditional V.A.C.^® Therapy in these patients.

“Because of the encouraging Georgetown University study results, we are excited to be initiating a study that will take a more careful look at the negative pressure wound therapy with intermittent dwelling of instillation,” said Ron Silverman, M.D., chief medical officer, KCI. “This study further demonstrates the KCI commitment to and investment in the new future of NPWT with instillation therapy and better treatment solutions for our customers and patients.”

About KCI

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI) is a leading global medical technology company devoted to understanding, developing and commercializing innovative, high-technology transformational healing solutions for customers and patients in more than 25 countries around the world. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI is committed to advancing the science of healing and positively impacting patient care by developing customer-driven innovations to meet the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. Proprietary KCI negative pressure technologies have revolutionized the way in which caregivers treat a wide variety of wound types. The V.A.C.^® Therapy System has been used on more than 7 million wounds worldwide. Additional information about KCI and its products is available at www.KCI1.com.

1. Powers KA, Kim PJ, Attinger CE, et al. Early Experience with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation in Acutely Infected Wounds. Presented at the 2013 Technology Innovations in Plastic Surgery Conference, May 31-June 2, 2013, San Francisco, CA.