The Versajet II hydrosurgery system for surgical debridement of acute and chronic wounds and burns

Six randomised controlled trials and 3 non-randomised comparative studies evaluated the original Versajet hydrosurgery system.

The Versajet hydrosurgery system was faster or took the same time to debride wounds compared with the comparators.

In 1 randomised controlled trial 25% of patients had adverse events in the Versajet arm compared with 9.5% in the comparator arm.

Pain experience was no different in 1 randomised controlled trial and 1 comparative study.

In 1 randomised control trial there was less blood loss using the Versajet system compared with conventional debridement with scalpels and electrocautery. In another randomised controlled trial a large blood vessel was cut in the Versajet system group.

The costs of the Versajet II system are £5000+VAT for the console and £230+VAT for each single-use hand piece.

Two studies compared the cost of treatment using the Versajet hydrosurgery system against conventional debridement.

One study estimated treatment using the Versajet hydrosurgery system to be less costly and the other found no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups.

In 1 comparative study, the mean number of surgical procedures was lower in the Versajet system arm. It was estimated that the average number of debridement procedures to achieve a healthy wound was 1.2 for the Versajet system and 1.9 for conventional surgical debridement.

No clinical evidence was found on the Versajet II hydrosurgery system but the available evidence on the predecessor Versajet system is likely to be applicable.

It is advisable to use the Versajet II system in an operating theatre to reduce the risk of transmitting infection through misting or spraying.