Investigating the Impact of Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment on Wound Healing at Cannulation Sites in Patients Following Extracorporeal Life Support

This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as an adjunctive therapy for wound management in patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Cannulation site wounds in extracorporeal life support (ECLS) patients are frequently complicated by persistent bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and impaired healing, which contribute to increased morbidity and healthcare burden. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either standard wound care alone or standard wound care combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment. cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) will be applied directly to the wound surface using an approved medical device at predefined intervals, in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and institutional protocols. The study will incorporate multimodal assessments to comprehensively evaluate treatment effects. Quantitative bacterial burden will be assessed using fluorescence imaging techniques, supplemented by microbiological cultures. Local wound inflammation and healing responses will be evaluated through cytokine analysis of wound exudates. Clinical wound healing progression will be monitored using validated scoring systems, wound surface measurements, and documentation of time to complete epithelialization. The frequency of surgical debridement and incidence of clinically significant wound infections will also be recorded. Safety will be closely monitored by documenting any adverse events associated with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) application, including local skin reactions or discomfort. Outcome assessors will be blinded to treatment allocation where feasible to minimize bias. This study seeks to determine whether cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy can reduce microbial burden, modulate local inflammatory responses, and accelerate wound healing, thereby providing evidence for its potential integration into routine wound care practices for critically ill patients undergoing Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS).