A system for applying a reduced pressure at a tissue site includes a reducedpressure source, a porous pad in fluidcommunication with the reduced pressure source, and a drape positionable overthe porous pad to seal the porous pad at the tissuesite. The porous pad includes a plurality of channel walls to form a pluralityof channels between the channel walls. The channelwalls are substantially liquid impermeable to prevent movement of a liquidthrough the channel walls but are gas permeable to allowmovement of a gas through the channel walls as reduced pressure is applied atthe tissue site. The liquid impermeability of thechannel walls and the application of reduced pressure causes flow of theliquid to occur through the plurality of channels.
