Scale-up of PragmaVAC device for open wound treatment using negative pressure in conflict affected regions
THE CHALLENGE
Large open wounds accompanied by tissue loss pose a huge medical challenge in conflict zones. Such wounds are commonplace in settings where blasts, shelling, and building collapses regularly cause devastating physical trauma. While wounds should be left unclosed until they develop enough blood supply to become ready for closure, this process requires close medical management and presents numerous opportunities for infections and complications to arise. Negative pressure (NP) suction is a proven method for treating large wounds, but current methods make the practice unfeasible in conflict-affected settings due to poor power supplies, funding shortages, and insufficient hospital bed capacity.
THE SOLUTION
To make NP wound treatment methods better suited to conflict-affected settings, Pragmatic Innovation Inc. developed a low-cost, manually powered vacuum pump known as PragmaVAC to help accelerate the treatment of large wounds in conflict zones. An air-tight dressing is placed over the wound and attached to a manually operated suction pump and drainage tube. This significantly facilitates the healing of acute and chronic wounds, while preventing infection. Importantly, PragmaVAC is also a single-patient, disposable device that does not require maintenance, servicing, or electrical supply, making it far more cost-effective and accessible in conflict-affected settings. With CHIC seed finding, Pragmatic Innovation Inc. tested PragmaVAC’s effectiveness in Syria and Palestine (and later, Ukraine), where conflict-driven displacement, wounds, injuries, and related surgical trauma are commonplace. A total of 71 patients benefited from life-improving wound care, having their injuries effectively treated and closed with PragmaVAC. Impact assessments revealed a 60% reduction in the duration of wound healing and an almost 70% reduction in the number of required dressing changes using PragmaVAC compared to standard treatment methods. Most importantly, PragmaVAC was widely reported as being easy to use, which improves the likelihood of its widespread adoption even in compromised healthcare settings.
