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BACKGROUND A wound is defined as an injury creating a disruption in the normal anatomical structure and function of the skin. There are two different types of wounds: vulnus that is an acute wound, which heals according to the normal wound healing process, and ulcus that is defined as hard-to-heal wounds (previously labelled chronic wounds) such as leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and diabetic foot ulcer. These wounds have a duration of more than six weeks and often show a disturbed wound healing process due to underlying causes other than direct trauma. METHODS This is a prospective study conducted among 40 cases satisfying the inclusion criteria admitted in KIMS, Hubli, from November 2016 to October 2018. Wounds were initially debrided and vacuum assisted dressing applied. Wounds were assessed depending on wound size and score before and after the application of VAC and the number of VAC settings required for uniform healthy granulation tissue formation was noted. RESULTS Among the 40 patients, location of open fracture was 72% in leg, 20% in foot and 8% of wounds were with forearm fractures. 30% of patients had initial wound score of 2a, 12.5% had score 2b, and 57.5% had score of 3. Patients with initial wound score 2 showed average reduction of 12.2 mm with appearance of healthy granulation tissue by average of 9 days and patients with initial wound score 3 showed average reduction of 10.3 mm at the end of VAC treatment with appearance of healthy granulation tissue by mean 10.4 days. The mean reduction in size of the wound overall is 11.25 mm. 20 patients required flap as a definitive closure procedure whereas in 19 patients, wound was closed by split skin grafting. One wound was contracted with VAC treatment. CONCLUSIONS Gustilo Anderson type 3 B open fractures were most commonly caused by road traffic accidents. Males were more prone for injury than females. The most common bone involved in this type of fracture is Tibia. Vacuum assisted closure therapy appears to be a viable adjunct for the treatment of open musculoskeletal injuries. Application of sub atmospheric pressure after the initial debridement to the wounds results in an increase in local functional blood perfusion, an accelerated rate of granulation tissue formation, and decrease in tissue bacterial levels. The granulation tissue formed was healthy and uniform. Soft tissue defects which lead to ugly and irregular surface were avoided by forming uniform granulation tissue and the defects were covered.

Objective:Management of Fournier’s gangrene (FG) includes large wound debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotic, wound care and re-debridement if necessary. The aim of our study was to compare standard open wound care and vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in patients with FG.Materials and Methods:Thirty-three patients (29 males and 4 females) who underwent surgery for FG were enrolled in the present study. The data was evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to wound care after large wound debridement. Standard open wound care with antibiotic pomade was performed twice a day in 14 patients and VAC therapy was performed every 48-72 hours in 17 patients. The data of the two groups were compared.Results:Twenty-three (69.7%) patients had Diabetes Mellitus and 20 patients (60%) had poor hygiene. The re-debridement rate in patients who received standard open wound care was statistically higher than in those who underwent VAC therapy (p=0.016). There were no statistically significant differences in mortality rate, length of hospital stay and need for reconstruction between the groups. When the data were analyzed, no statistically significant difference was found in FG Severity index score, length of hospital stay and mortality rate. However, the relationship between mortality rate and location of lesion was statistically significant (p=0.03). Four patients died, 3 (75%) due to wide necrotizing fasciitis extending to the abdominal wall.Conclusion:The present study showed that the technique used for wound care did not influence mortality, need for reconstruction and length of hospital stay. The only advantage of VAC therapy was decreased re-debridement rate in patients with FG.

Background The management of complex soft tissue defects with exposed bones/tendons is always a challenging task for the surgeon and the problem becomes more pronounced when it comes to the management of these wounds in children. Though flap procedures are considered the standard for managing the complex soft tissue defects with exposed bones/tendons yet small blood vessels for anastomosis, long operative period, increased chances of perioperative thrombosis, and difficult perioperative management in children add to the difficulty in performing flap procedures in children. The vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has emerged as a novel modality for the management of the difficult wounds with added advantages, especially in children. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of VAC in the management of wounds with exposed bones/tendons in children. Patients and Method Forty-six children of complex wounds with exposed bones/tendons were included in the study from July 2016 to June 2018. Results Out of 46 patients, 31 were male; the patients had a mean age of 8.4 years. Road traffic accident was the most common mode of injury (54%), with most of the wounds located over extremities. The mean duration of VAC therapy was 12 days. More than 90% coverage of the exposed structure was seen in 89% of patients. The wounds were definitively managed by split-thickness skin graft in 89% of patients and flap cover in 6.5% of patients. The mean cost of the VAC therapy at our government run hospital was 187 Indian rupees per day. No significant major complications were seen during the treatment. Conclusion VAC therapy is an efficient, safe, and cost-effective modality of treatment for the management of complex wounds in the pediatric population.

Highlights • Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a nightmare for digestive surgeons. • Requires complex treatment and a long duration of hospitalization of patients with a large cost burden. • VAC using wall suction with NPWT principle can be used to treat patients with complex wounds. • A simple and easy procedure with good outcomes., Introduction Traumatic injury to the pancreas is rare and difficult to diagnose, requiring immediate operative management. It also has high mortality and morbidity rates. Postoperative pancreatic fistula is one of the complications that is considered a nightmare for digestive surgeons. The prevalence of POPF is estimated at 13%–41%, with 28% of mortality rate and the most common cause of death is retroperitoneal sepsis and hemorrhage. It requires complex treatment and a long duration of hospitalization of patients with a large cost burden. Presentation of case Here we report 2 cases of POPF after pancreatic injury in abdominal trauma. The patients underwent emergency laparotomy. In the hospital ward, the patients developed wound dehiscence and a clear viscous pancreatic juice came out from the wound with high output. The installation of wall VAC using wall suction with pressure adjustments according to the number of products per day was performed. The patients showed good outcomes, the pancreatic juice output decreased and diminished, and the wound also narrowed and closed. Discussion VAC using wall suction is a device that applies the technique of NPWT and an emerging procedure used to treat patients with complex wounds. NPWT can reduce pooling of fluid, while reducing shear stress and tissue hypoxia at the wound edges, and stimulating the release of vascular endothelial growth factor in wound milieu. Conclusions Tapering pressure of VAC using wall suction for treatment of pancreatic fistula in post laparotomy pancreatic injury patients is a simple and easy procedure with good outcomes.

Introduction The incidence of compound fractures and severe soft tissue loss has increased manifolds due to high speed traffics. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a treatment modality for managing soft tissue aspect of such injuries. It reduces the need of flap coverage. However, many patients from developing countries cannot afford a conventional NPWT. We developed an indigenous low cost NPWT for our patients and supplemented it with Topical Pressurised Oxygen Therapy (TPOT). We conducted this study to compare its treatment outcome with the use of conventional NPWT. Materials and methods The study was conducted from 2018 to 2020 at a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 86 patients were treated with NPWT and their results were assessed for various parameters like reduction in wound size, discharge, infection, etc. We included patients with acute traumatic wounds as well as chronic infected wounds, and placed them in three treatment groups to receive either conventional NPWT, Indigenous NPWT and lastly NPWT with supplement TPOT. Results We observed a significant reduction of wound size, discharge and infection control in all three groups. The efficacy of indigenous NPWT is at par with conventional NPWT. Only six patients who had several comorbidities required flap coverage while in another four patients we could not achieve desired result due to technical limitations. Conclusion Indigenous NPWT with added TPOT is a very potent and cost effective method to control infection and rapid management of severe trauma seen in orthopaedic practice. It also decreases the dependency on plastic surgeons for management of such wounds.

Purpose Definitive fascial closure is an essential treatment objective after open abdomen treatment and mitigates morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of evidence on factors that promote or prevent definitive fascial closure. Methods A multi-center multivariable analysis of data from the Open Abdomen Route of the European Hernia Society included all cases between 1 May 2015 and 31 December 2019. Different treatment elements, i.e. the use of a visceral protective layer, negative-pressure wound therapy and dynamic closure techniques, as well as patient characteristics were included in the multivariable analysis. The study was registered in the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Registry for Clinical Trials (DRK00021719). Results Data were included from 630 patients from eleven surgical departments in six European countries. Indications for OAT were peritonitis (46%), abdominal compartment syndrome (20.5%), burst abdomen (11.3%), abdominal trauma (9%), and other conditions (13.2%). The overall definitive fascial closure rate was 57.5% in the intention-to-treat analysis and 71% in the per-protocol analysis. The multivariable analysis showed a positive correlation of negative-pressure wound therapy (odds ratio: 2.496, p p p = 0.029) and the number of surgical procedures before OAT (odds ratio: 0.740, p = 0.005) with DFC. Conclusion The clinical course and prognosis of open abdomen treatment can significantly be improved by the use of treatment elements such as negative-pressure wound therapy and dynamic closure techniques, which are associated with definitive fascial closure.

Introduction Diabetic foot ulcers are one among the most commonly encountered complication of diabetes mellitus tackled by the surgical department worldwide. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and silver-releasing foam dressings are effective modalities for the treatment of ulcers. This study compares the two treatment modalities. Methods Sixty adult patients admitted with diabetic foot ulcers undergoing NPWT (vacuum-assisted closure [VAC]) or silver-releasing foam dressing (Biatain Ag) treatment were included in the study. Patients undergoing either of the treatment modalities were observed and followed up on a weekly basis prospectively. Wounds were routinely examined for the size of ulcer in area (cm2) and time taken for wound healing. Patients were also assessed qualitatively by means of a questionnaire to find out patient satisfaction and compliance. Results Time taken for wound healing among Biatain Ag group was found to be 24±9.483 days compared with only 19.73±7.575 days in the VAC group. Decrease in size ulcer measured in area was found to be 38.79% in Biatain Ag group, whereas in the VAC group it was found to be 26.56%. Patients were satisfied with both modalities of treatment; however, patient compliance was better for the Biatain Ag Group due to decrease in restriction of mobility and decrease in cost. Conclusion Overall, both modalities of treatment were found to be comparable and can be used with similar efficacy. It can be concluded that silver-releasing foam dressing can act as a beneficial alternative to NPWT in the treatment of diabetic ulcers.

The entero-atmospheric fistula (EAF) is a recognized complication of open abdomen surgeries, which causes significant morbidity and mortality. This usually causes long hospitalizations and may require many surgical operations. While different methods of treatment for EAF are used, all different methods share the same goal, which is a proper closure of the fistula and the open abdomen to avoid recurrence and complications. We report a case of a 48-year-old female with a bowel perforation following an attempted open bilateral ovarian cyst drainage with cyst wall biopsy complicated by entero-atmospheric fistula treated by wound closure with vacuum-assisted pressure. In conclusion, the use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) to induce spontaneous healing of EAFs can provide a safe acceptable alternative to surgical treatment.

Purpose To explore the role of vacuum assisted closure (VAC) therapy versus conventional dressings in the Fournier’s gangrene wound therapy. Patients and Methods This is a retrospective multi-institutional cohort study. Data of 92 patients from nine centers between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. After surgery, patient having a local or a disseminated FG were managed with VAC therapy or with conventional dressings. The 10-weeks wound closure cumulative rate and OS were analyzed. Results Of the 92 patients, 62 (67.4%) showed local and 30 (32.6%) a disseminated FG. After surgery, 19 patients (20.7%) with local and 14 (15.2%) with disseminated FG underwent to VAC therapy; 43 (46.7%) with local and 16 (17.4%) with disseminated FG were treated using conventional dressings. The multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the VAC in patients with disseminated FG led to a higher cumulative rate of wound closure than patients treated with no-VAC (OR = 6.5; 95% CI 1.1–37.4, p = 0.036). The Kaplan–Meier survival curves for the OS showed a significant difference between no-VAC patients with local and disseminated FG (OS rate at 90 days 0.90, 95% CI 0.71–0.97 vs 0.55, 95% CI 0.24–0.78, respectively; p = 0.039). Cox regression confirmed that no-VAC patients with disseminated FG showed the lowest OS (hazard ratio adjusted for sex and age HR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.4; p = 0.033). Conclusions In this large cohort study, VAC therapy in patients with disseminated FG may offer an advantage in terms of 10-weeks wound closure cumulative rate and OS at 90 days after initial surgery.

Background Closed incisional negative pressure wound treatment (ciNPWT) is one of the promising methods for the prevention of complications in surgical incisions. The mechanisms of ciNPWT have previously been elucidated and in this series, we demonstrate various, as of yet, underreported uses for the technology. Our aim is to share our experience with ciNPWT on various anatomic sites with novel indications. Materials and methods ciNPWT was used in 24 patients. The mean age was 49.6. All the incisions were sutured, clean, and non-infected. Patients' sex, age, comorbidities, anatomic location of the wound, and the indications for ciNPWT were recorded. Results The mean number of applications was three per patient. One suture dehiscence after one session of ciNPWT was encountered in a flap donor site of an infant operated for meningomyelocele. Late-term seroma and hematoma formation were encountered in two patients. No surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, and ciNPWT related complications were seen in other patients. The majority of the applications were on the trunk, lower extremity, pelvis, upper extremity, and scalp respectively. Indications for ciNPWT utilization were preventing dehiscence, seroma, and hematoma formation in the majority of the patients. Conclusion ciNPWT is reliable and effective in the prevention of post-operative wound dehiscence and surgical site infections. It can be used safely in various locations and different indications for preventingcomplications such as preventing dehiscence in revision surgeries, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula formation in the scalp, and wound breakdown in chronic corticosteroid use.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has revolutionized wound care. Negative pressure therapy (NPT) is now being applied to closed incisions. Closed-incision NPT (ciNPT) management systems apply negative pressure to the incision and structurally stabilize the surrounding tissues. They are thought to be helpful in high-risk surgical closure. Patients with large sarcomas that have been previously radiated are considered to be among the highest risk for postoperative wound complications. We share our experience with ciNPT in two patients after resection of large, previously irradiated invasive sarcomas. In both cases, healing was uncomplicated. ciNPT shows promise of effective and favorable wound healing in early case reports. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials or registry studies will be necessary to provide higher levels of evidence for this technique.

Background Prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) is a public health challenge. Our objective was to determine if prophylactic negative-pressure wound therapy (pNPWT) allows preventing SSI after laparotomy. Methods Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched on 6 October 2019 for original studies reporting the incidences of SSI in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery with and without pNPWT. Risk differences (RDs) between control and pNPWT patients and risk ratios (RRs) for SSI were obtained using random-effects models. Results Twenty-one studies (2930 patients, 5 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 16 observational studies) were retained for the analysis. Pooled RD between patients with and without pNPWT was −12% (95% confidence interval [CI], −17% to −8%; I2 = 57%; P Conclusions Existing studies suggest that pNPWT on closed wounds is protective against the occurrence of SSI in abdominal surgery, but these findings need to be confirmed by more high-quality evidence, preferentially in subgroups of patients with an incidence of SSI ≥20% in the control arm.

Non-healing diabetic foot has always demanded more attention from the surgeon due to the distinct problem it possesses. There is a constant need for the evolvement in the management and this case is one such attempt. A 62-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus since 10 years presented with a non-healing foot ulcer since 1 month. He was managed with Ayurveda internal and external interventions for dusta vrana combined with contemporary methods like vacuum assisted wound suction and skin grafting. The patient who presented with non-healing diabetic foot was found to have better wound healing with combined intervention. The current approach indicates the better outcome with multi-dimensional approach towards diabetic foot. Keywords: Diabetic foot, Dustavrana, Shastyupakrama, VAC, Grafting

In calcaneal avulsion fractures, skin necrosis as a result of pressure from the underlying fragment is a fairly common and serious complication. In spite of proper treatment, skin healing complication may occur. We report a calcaneal fracture case complicated by skin necrosis and managed with a novel treatment strategy including application of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC). This is the first application of combined PRP and VAC treatment in a calcaneal fracture complicated by skin necrosis and was accompanied with very favorable outcomes while avoiding other more complex treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND VAC AKA-negative pressure wound therapy “the VAC acts as a new step in the ‘reconstruction ladder’. The VAC enhances the tissue granulation, which makes it possible to use less complex reconstruction options, e.g., converting the wounds acceptable for the skin grafting, which otherwise would have required flap coverage.” MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, S. V. R. R. G. G. Hospital, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, from January 2014 to September 2015. 34 patients were treated for various fractures with significant soft tissue loss during this period with the proposed method and were included in the present study. This is a prospective study with longitudinal follow up of patients throughout the study period. RESULTS In our study, a total of 35 patients were treated with custom made vacuum-assisted closure system. All of them were initially opined to be requiring flap cover surgery by plastic surgeon to fill for the soft tissue defect, however, with our method, out of 35, only 2 required flap cover and rest of them could be managed with a lesser invasive method of split skin grafting. Out of 35 patients, 33 were lower limb injuries and 2 have sustained upper limb injuries. Average number of dressing required were 2.69 and average duration for wound healing was 5.3 days. There were no significant complications in the present study. CONCLUSION Homemade VAC is a cost effective, equally efficacious and a valuable alternative modality of treatment in traumatic soft tissue defects with decreased morbidity, improved compliance and fruitful outcomes.

BACKGROUND Delayed wound healing is a significant health problem, particularly in patients with compound fractures. It still remains a challenging task in orthopaedic surgery, which in addition to the pain and suffering, failure of the wound to heal, also imposes social and financial burdens. The aim of the study is to evaluate the results of vacuum-assisted wound therapy in patients with open musculoskeletal injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS 30 patients of open musculoskeletal injuries underwent randomised trial of vacuum-assisted closure therapy versus standard wound therapy around the upper limb and lower limb. Mean patient age was 39 ± 18 years necrotic tissues were debrided before applying VAC therapy. Dressings were changed every 3 or 4 days. For standard wound therapy, debridement followed by daily dressings was done. Data Management and Statistical Analysis- The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS Granulation tissue status and skin healing is better in patients undergoing VAC therapy. Hospital stay of patients undergoing VAC therapy was also less. CONCLUSION Vacuum-assisted wound therapy was better method of wound management.

In the work we present comparative results of treatment of patients with generalized secondary and tertiary peritonitis depending on the way of surgery completion. Patients in group I (n=27) underwent only skin suturing after the surgery, in group II –laporostoma was formed with VAC in the abdominal cavity. We have evaluated the level of microbe contamination and condition after wound surgery, intensity of adhesion process in the abdominal cavity, multiple organ failure after surgery. The use of laporostoma combined with VAC at different stages of generalized peritonitis treatment helps to achieve illness rigress, less number of planned saniations of abdominal cavity. Even after the first use of VAC, quicker clearance of operation wound and appearance of new granulation tis­sues occurred. In group II in secondary saniation the frequency of fixing of abdominal cavity is developing 31,9% higher (p Етапна ізоляція черевної порожнини при розлитому перитоніті. КутовийО.Б., КосульніковС.О., ЗавізіонЄ.М., СтепанськийД.О.У роботі представлено порівняння результатів лікуван­ня 43 хворих з розлитим вторинним і третинним перитонітом залежно від способу завершення операції. Пацієнтам I групи (n=27) хірургічне втручання закінчували ушиванням тільки шкіри, II (n=16) – формували лапаростому з VAC черевної порожнини. Оцінювали рівень мікробної контамінації і стан операційної рани, ступінь вираженості адгезивного процесу в черевній порожнині, прояв поліорганної недостатності у хворих в післяопераційному періоді. Використання лапаростоми в поєднанні з VAC на етапах лікування РП дозволяє досягнути регресу захворювання, вдавшись до меншої кількості планових санацій черевної порожнини. Вже після першого застосування VAC черевної порожнини відзначено більш швидке очищення операційної рани і поява свіжих грануляцій. У II групі при другій санації на 31,9% вища частота фіксації живота, що розвивається (р

We herein describe a case of serial reduction of an extremely large and complex gastroschisis using vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in a boy born at 355/7 weeks' gestation. A spring-loaded silicone silo was placed at birth. By day of life (DOL) 22, minimal visceral contents had been reduced, and the silo was difficult to maintain due to the size of the fascial defect and loss of abdominal domain. A bespoke VAC dressing was constructed, and biweekly dressing changes allowed gradual reduction of the gastroschisis until the viscera were consolidated. By DOL 50, the viscera were completely reduced, and VAC therapy was discontinued. Feeds were commenced on DOL 57 and increased to goal by DOL 86. The baby was discharged home on DOL 115. We conclude that VAC dressings can be used to aid gradual reduction of an extremely large gastroschisis, particularly in medical fragile infants.

BACKGROUND Large, complicated wounds pose a significant surgical problem. Negative pressure wound therapy is one of several methods enabling to obtain better treatment results in case of open infected wounds.1,2 The use of negative pressure therapy enables to obtain a reduction in the number of bacteria which significantly reduces the number of complications.3,4,5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To review the Role of VAC in wound healing in Orthopaedics. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cases presented in this study are those who were admitted in King George Hospital in the time period from January 2014 to August 2015. This is a prospective interventional study. In this study, 15 patients were assigned to the study group (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy- NPWT) based on their willingness for undergoing treatment. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS 12 males and 3 females are involved in the study. There is decrease in the mean wound area from 64 cm2 to 38 cm2 . There is decrease in the duration of hospital stay. Finally, wound is closed by SSG or secondary suturing. DISCUSSION NPWT is known to reduce bacterial counts, although they remain colonised with organisms. Wounds covered with NPW dressing are completely isolated from the environment, thereby reduces cross infection. In our series, we had 73.3% (11 cases) excellent results and 26.7% (4 cases) good results and no poor results. As interpretation with results, VAC therapy is effective mode of adjuvant therapy for the management of infected wounds. CONCLUSION VAC has been proven to be a reliable method of treating a variety of infected wounds. It greatly increases the rate of granulation tissue formation and lowers bacterial counts to accelerate wound healing. It can be used as a temporary dressing to prepare wounds optimally prior to closure or as a definitive treatment for nonsurgical and surgical wounds. VAC is now being used in a multitude of clinical settings, including the treatment of surgical wounds, infected wounds, traumatic wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and venous stasis wounds.

Background Wound infections after posterior spinal surgery are a troublesome complication; patients are occasionally forced to remove the internal fixation device, which can lead to instability of the spine and injury to the spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for treating an early postoperative spinal wound infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 18 patients with wound infections after posterior spinal surgery from 2014 to 2017 at a single tertiary center. All patients included in the study received modified VAC treatment (VAC combined with a closed suction irrigation system, CSIS) until the wound satisfied the secondary closure conditions. Detailed information was obtained from the medical records. Results Wound size decreased significantly after 1 week of the modified VAC treatment. Three patients were treated with VAC three times and one patient received the VAC treatment four times; the remaining patients received the VAC treatment twice. The patients had excellent wound beds after an average of 8 days. The wound healed completely after an average of 17 days, and the average hospital stay was 33 days. There was no recurrence of infection at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions This study demonstrates that VAC combined with a CSIS is a safe, reliable, and effective method to treat a wound infection after spinal surgery. This improved VAC procedure provides an excellent wound bed to facilitate wound healing and shorten the hospital stay.

Highlights • Perineal wound complications after APR remain to be severe clinical problems. • A myocutaneous flap has been reported to decrease perineal wound complications. • VAC therapy is useful for treating complex wounds because it promotes granulation. • This is the first report of VAC for open perineal wound after APR. • Our results suggested that, it is a useful treatment in comparison with a myocutaneous flap., Introduction In colorectal cancer surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication, and especially, perineal wound complications after abdominoperineal resection (APR) remain to be serious clinical problems. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy was first reported in another surgical field in 1997, and it is useful for treating complex wounds because it promotes granulation. VAC therapy has been recently used for open abdominal wounds. We introduced VAC for treating open perineal wound of APR and report the usefulness of it. Presentation of case We treated four patients. Firstly, in cases 1 and 2, we introduced VAC therapy to the management of SSI of the perineal wound after APR, and it was useful to control postoperative perineal wound infection. And also, in cases 3 and 4, we introduced VAC therapy to prevent perineal wound infection. Perineal wound infection did not happen. Discussion A vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap has been reported to decrease perineal wound complications including pelvic abscess and open perineal wound; however it results in significant operative blood loss, increased operative time, and additional surgical complications. In our cases, there were no complications relating to VAC therapy and it promoted rapid wound healing. Our results suggested that it is an effective treatment for APR in a high-risk case of an open perineal wound. Conclusion VAC therapy is a less invasive method and a useful treatment for open perineal wound of APR.

Highlights • We report a rare case of malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes invading the chest wall. • The patient presented with systemic toxicity and hematologic/electrolyte disarray. • Surgical resection and reconstruction were staged with temporary wound VAC coverage. • Definitive histopathologic tumor margins were assessed between procedures. • Adjuvant medical/radiotherapy were administered resulting in long-term remission., Introduction Cystosarcoma phyllodes (CP) is a rare breast tumor occurring most often in females in their fifth decade. While usually benign, some CP tumors exhibit aggressive growth patterns and extensively invade chest wall structures; resecting these tumors to negative surgical margins can be challenging. We present a case of malignant CP involving the chest wall where using a negative pressure vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system after resection enabled complete histopathologic margin assessment prior to reconstruction. This is the first known report of staged breast tumor resection and reconstruction with interim VAC coverage. Case presentation A 48 year-old woman presented with rapidly increasing left breast size, fevers, and fatigue. On examination, the left breast was massively enlarged with engorged vessels and skin necrosis. Lab analyses revealed unusual metabolic abnormalities requiring preoperative hospitalization. We performed a left modified radical mastectomy with partial resection of pectoralis major and minor muscles, temporarily sealing the wound with a VAC due to concern for deeper tumor extension that could require further resection. Pathology revealed malignant CP with a negative deep margin. The 38 cm defect was then repaired with latissimus myocutaneous flap plus skin graft. At three-year follow up the patient remains free of disease. Conclusion In cases of malignant CP involving the chest wall, minimizing the extent of chest wall resection is critical for reducing morbidity, while completely clearing tumor margins is essential for reducing recurrence risk. Using temporary wound VAC coverage enables cautious debulking followed by histopathologic margin assessment prior to definitively reconstructing the breast.

The management of difficult to heal wounds has always been a cause of concern for the treating clinicians. There has been a tremendous increase in the number patients presenting with difficult to heal wounds. The conventional techniques have been in use since the long time for the management of these wounds, yet desired results are not achieved always. Thus a newer novel technique which might be useful in the difficult to heal wounds and delivering at par or better results as compared to the conventional techniques is the need of the hour.

Background and Objectives: The tie-over bolster technique has been conventionally used for skin graft fixation, however, long operative times and postoperative pain are the main disadvantages of this method. In this study, we introduce a new method using vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) with a silicon-based dressing as an alternative for skin graft fixation. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of the VAC plus silicon-based dressing method and the conventional tie-over bolster technique for skin graft fixation in terms of pain, operative time, and skin graft take rate. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients who underwent skin graft surgery performed by a single surgeon from January 2017 to October 2018 were included in this clinical study. They were divided into two groups based on the type of treatment: tie-over bolster technique and vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), or silicon-based dressing groups. The operative times were recorded twice (during suturing or stapling of the graft and during removal of the dressing) in the two groups, similarly, pain was assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS) after surgery and during dressing removal. Skin graft take rate was evaluated two weeks after dressing removal. Results: Twenty-six patients who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled into the study and assigned to one of the two groups (n = 13 each). No significant differences in age, gender, and graft area were noted between the two groups of patients. The VAC plus silicon-based dressing group demonstrated higher skin graft take rates (p &lt, 0.05), shorter operation times (p &lt, 0.05), and lower levels of pain (postoperative pain and pain during dressing removal) compared with the tie-over bolster technique group (p &lt, 0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that VAC with silicon-based dressing can be used for skin graft fixation due to its superior properties when compared with the conventional method, and can improve the quality of life of patients undergoing skin graft fixation.

Open abdomen (OA) is a surgical approach, that emerged in last 15 years, with its management being complicated, timely and financially demanding, burdened with high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, several publications proved superiority of usage of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) over usage of conventional temporary abdominal closure techniques in treatment of open abdomen. Different aspects of treatment of OA with NPWT remain to be assessed and stated.Authors of the paper prospectively assessed group of 48 patients with OA, managed by one surgeon with NPWT between 2006-2014, assessing mortality and morbidity in the group stratified by indication for OA, type of sequential closure of OA, presence and management of concomitant enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF), maximal values of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Procalcitonine (PCT), and initial body mass index (BMI). Mortality of the whole group was 35.41%, rate of fascial closure 45.83% and rate of the wound closure 83.33%. Incidence of the fistula was 37.5%, of these 66.67% were successfully locally managed. Incidence of fascial closure without use of sequential closure was significantly lower as opposed to use of different techniques of sequential closure.Unsuccessful local management of EAF is significant predictor of mortality. All other data were not found to be statistically significant. Identifying specific aspects of treatment of OA by NPWT, significantly improving outcomes, and adhering to these aspects in clinical practice will further ameliorate outcomes.

Background This retrospective study analyzed the effectiveness of intrathoracic negative pressure therapy for debilitated patients with empyema and compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of three different intrapleural vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) techniques. Methods We investigated 43 consecutive (pre)septic patients with poor general condition (Karnofsky index ≤ 50 %) and multimorbidity (≥ 3 organ diseases) or immunosuppression, who had been treated for primary, postoperative, or recurrent pleural empyema with VAC in combination with open window thoracostomy (OWT-VAC) with minimally invasive technique (Mini-VAC), and instillation (Mini-VAC-Instill). Results The overall duration of intrathoracic vacuum therapy was 14 days (5–48 days). Vacuum duration in the Mini-VAC and Mini-VAC-Instill groups (12.4 ± 5.7 and 10.4 ± 5.4 days) was significantly shorter (p = 0.001) than in the group treated with open window thoracostomy (OWT)-VAC (20.3 ± 9.4 days). No major complication was related to intrathoracic VAC therapy. Chest wall closure rates were significantly higher in the Mini-VAC and Mini-VAC-Instill groups than in the OWT-VAC group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.026). Overall, the mean postoperative length of stay in hospital (LOS) was 21 days (median 18, 6–51 days). LOS was significantly shorter (p = 0.027) in the Mini-VAC-Instill group (15.1 ± 4.8) than in the other two groups (23.8 ± 12.3 and 22.7 ± 1.5). Overall, the 30-day and 60-day mortality rates were 4.7 % (2/43) and 9.3 % (4/43), and none of the deaths was related to infection. Conclusions For debilitated patients, immediate minimally invasive intrathoracic vacuum therapy is a safe and viable alternative to OWT. Mini-VAC-Instill may have the fastest clearance and healing rates of empyema.

Freshwater aquaculture production systems are closely related to Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture systems (IAA). Four systems were identified from freshwater aquaculture farming in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. There was prevalently VAC system existence both inside and outside the residential area. The system was defined as farming diversifications and nutrient linkages among V (orchard), A (pond) and C (animal) components relying on the on-farm resources and off-farm integrations and linkages with other human activities. The development of the freshwater aquaculture systems was very diverse and dynamic. The paper presented the economic efficiency and effectiveness on four freshwater fish production systems. Clear evidence was found to provide evidence that the traditional VAC system was sustainable food supply model for the developing countries. Farms operated the VAC systems could easily diversify their farming activities, foods, foodstuffs, redundant employment, and income. Especially, income diversification was a practical strategy for rural farms to reduce the vulnerability on their agricultural practices both on production and market risks. The advantages were likely to ensure that VAC systems would still be more and more important role in northern Vietnam for food security and rural development under the context of agricultural land loss by transforming progressively into urbanisation and industrialisation.

Introduction: The application of controlled levels of negative or sub atmospheric pressure for a prolonged period of time on a wound had shown to accelerate removal of excess fluid and promote hyperaemia, which eventually promote wound healing. Aim: The study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) therapy for soft tissue injury in open musculoskeletal trauma. Materials and Methods: Twenty cases of complex musculoskeletal wound involving different parts of body were included in this progressive randomized study. In patients, aggressive debridement was done before the application of VAC therapy. Controlled negative pressure was uniformly applied to the wound. Dressings were changed after every 4 to 5 days. The evaluation of results included healing rate of the wound, eradication of infection, complication rate, and number of secondary procedures. Results: VAC therapy over the wound was administered for an average of 20.4 days ±6.72 days (range 14 to 42 days). There was decrease in wound size attained by VAC therapy ranged from 2.6 to 24.4cm², with an average reduction of 10.55 cm². Three wounds were infected at the start of VAC therapy. However, all patients were cleared of bacterial infection by the end of VAC therapy. Conclusion: VAC therapy using negative pressure promote Wound healing by increasing local capillary perfusion and increased rate of granulation tissue formation, decreases the duration of wound healing and requires fewer painful dressing change.

Background The situation of abdominal sepsis secondary to colonic perforation sometimes forces treat the patient with multiple interventions in the open abdomen (OA) context. Correct management of OA is important to restore the patient’s clinical situation and to avoid further complications of the abdominal wall. Delayed primary closure of the abdomen using a dynamic and progressive traction is a relatively new technique for treating the OA. Case presentation We report the case of a 50 year old woman with history of malnutrition and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affects for an OA after several surgical interventions. Two previous interventions (right colectomy, ileostomy and laparotomy with Bogotá bag) for disseminated peritonitis and abdominal compartment syndrome were performed. Six days after the Bogota bag the of the dynamic closure system ABRA® system was placed to delayed primary closure of the abdomen with excellent result results of the contingency of the abdominal wall. Discussion The most common technique in the current management of OA is the placement of vacuum-assisted closure or the use of a mesh. These systems generally require several operations to restore the integrity of the abdominal wall. However, the dynamic closure of the abdominal wall makes it possible to restore it into the same process. Conclusions ABRA system allows delayed primary closure of the abdominal wall in an OA by sepsis secondary to colonic perforation. The stoma was not a problem with this technique. The final closure of the abdomen was at 16 days after the ABRA placement. The abdominal wall has not alterations in the follow up after 3 years.

Background In vascular surgery, surgical site infection is the most common postoperative morbidity, occurring in 5–10% of vascular patients. The optimal management of surgical site infection with involved lower limb vascular grafts remains controversial. We present our 6-year results of using the V.A.C.® system in surgical site infection with involved vascular grafts. Methods A retrospective 6-year review of patient who underwent a VAC® therapy for postoperative surgical site infection in lower limb with involved vascular grafts in our department between January 2006 and December 2011. V.A.C therapy was used in 40 patients. All patients underwent surgical wound revision with VAC® therapy and antibiotics. Results The mean time of use of the V.A.C. system was 14.2 days. After mean of 12 days in 34 of 40 patients, in whom the use of VAC® therapy resulted in delayed primary closure or healing by secondary intention. The mean postoperative follow-up time was 61.67 months, during which 3 patients died. Conclusion We showed that the V.A.C.® system is valuable for managing specifically surgical site infection with involved vascular grafts. Using the V.A.C.® system, reoperation rates are reduced; 85% of patients avoided graft replacement.

The increase of damage control surgery in visceral trauma as in other emergency situations (mesenteric ischemia, peritonitis) may require leaving the abdomen open, i.e. laparostomy at the end of the procedure. This approach can prevent or treat an abdominal compartment syndrome, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In cases of open abdomen, the use of a negative pressure system by vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) is the preferred technique to isolate and cover the abdominal contents.

Fatih Karaaslan,1 Şevki Erdem,2 Musa Ugur Mermerkaya11Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bozok University Medical School, Yozgat, Turkey; 2Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Haydarpasa Numune Training Hospital, Istanbul, TurkeyObjective: To evaluate the results of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the treatment of surgical spinal site infections.Materials and methods: The use of NPWT in postoperative infections after dorsal spinal surgery (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion plus posterior instrumentation) was studied retrospectively. From February 2011 to January 2012, six patients (females) out of 317 (209 females; 108 males) were readmitted to our clinic with surgical site infections on postoperative day 14 (range 9–19) and were treated with debridement, NPWT, and antibiotics. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory data, including the ability to retain the spinal hardware and recurrent infections.Results: The incidence of deep postoperative surgical site infection was six (1.89%) patients (females) out of 317 patients (209 females; 108 males) at 1 year. All patients completed their wound NPWT regimen successfully. An average of 5.1 (range 3–8) irrigation and debridement sessions was performed before definitive wound closure. The mean follow-up period was 13 (range 12–16) months. No patient had a persistent infection requiring partial or total hardware removal. The hospital stay infection parameters normalized within an average of 4.6 weeks.Conclusion: The study illustrates the usefulness of NPWT as an effective adjuvant treatment option for managing complicated deep spinal surgical wound infections.Keywords: surgical infection, NPWT, VAC, TLIF

Background: Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressive, destructive, necrotizing fasciitis of the perianal, perineal, and genital regions. Common clinical symptoms include sudden intense pain in the scrotum, prostration, fever, and pallor. In this study, the aim was to assess FG through a wider lens. Methods: 60 patients that presented with FG at the authors' hospital over a 6-year period between April 2008 and March 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, site of gangrene, risk factors, symptoms, microbiology, treatment modalities, Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index score (FGSI), and mortality data were evaluated. Results: 60 male patients with a mean age of 55 (ranging between 48-62) were included in the study. 50 patients survived and the mortality rate was 16.6%. Septic shock (n: 4), cardiogenic shock (n:4), and pneumonia (n:2) were the official causes of death. As a risk factor, 45 (75%) patients had diabetes mellitus (DM), 40 (66.6%) had hypertension (HT), and 35 (58.3%) had both DM and HT. There were no other co-morbidities in the 10 (16.6%) remaining patients. All the surviving 50 patients were suitable for surgical reconstruction. A split thickness skin grafting procedure was performed for 46 (76.6%) patients and flap reconstruction was performed for 4 (6.6%). None of the patients had hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). The mean length of hospitalization was 16 days (ranging from 5-58) for all patients. A mean FGSI score at admission was 5.02 +/- 2.45 for survivors compared with 13.8 +/- 4.53 for non-survivors. A mean FGSI score was 4.56 +/- 2.28 for survivors and 11.50 +/- 2.63 for non-survivors during hospitalization. Conclusion: Although FG has a high mortality rate, appropriate management of the disease can reduce it. Early diagnosis, surgical debridement, vacuum-assisted closure application, and antibiotherapy are essentials for treating FG. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2016; 5(3.000): 134-137]

Objectives: This is a prospective study of the clinical efficacy of the V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressing for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Materials and methods: Five consecutive patients with diabetic foot ulcers were treated with V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressings and studied over a period of 22-48 days. The indications for treatment included diabetic patients with open ray amputation wounds and wounds post-drainage for abscess with exposed deep structures. Clinical outcome was measured in terms of reduction in wound dimensions, presence of wound granulation, microbial clearance, and development of wound complications. Results: Our results showed that with V.A.C. therapy, wound healing occurred in all patients. The number of dressings required ranged from 8 to 10. The baseline average wound size was 23.1 cm 2 . Wound areas shrunk by 18.4-41.7%. All subjects achieved 100% wound bed granulation with an average length of treatment of 33 days. Microbial clearance was achieved in all cases. All wounds healed by secondary intention in one case and four cases required split-thickness skin grafting. Conclusion: The V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressing is effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. It promotes reduction of wound area, wound bed granulation, and microbial clearance. By allowing placement of the suction pad outside the foot, it allowed patients to wear protective shoes and to walk non-weight bearing with crutches during V.A.C. therapy. Keywords: diabetic foot, negative pressure wound therapy, ulcer, neuropathy (Published: 4 March 2011) Citation: Diabetic Foot & Ankle 2011, 2 : 5893 - DOI: 10.3402/dfa.v2i0.5893

Infection of pancreatic necrosis, although present in less than 10% of acute pancreatitis, carries a high risk of mortality; debridment and drainage of necrosis is the treatment of choice, followed by 'open' or 'close' abdomen management. We recently introduced the use of intra-abdominal vacuum sealing after a classic necrosectomy and laparostomy. Two patients admitted to ICU for respiratory insufficiency and a diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis developed pancreatic necrosis and were treated by necrosectomy, lesser sac marsupialisation and posterior lumbotomic opening. Both of the patients recovered from pancreatitis and a good healing of laparostomic wounds was obtained with the use of the VAC system. Most relevant advantages of this technique seem to be: the prevention of abdominal compartment syndrome, the simplified nursing of patients and the reduction of time to definitive abdominal closure.

The ideal timing of wound closure for open tibial fractures is debatable. This study aimed to compare outcomes of primary and delayed wound closure in severe open tibial fractures initially treated with internal fixation and vacuum-assisted wound coverage (VAC). Data of 80 patients with Gustilo–Anderson type IIIA and IIIB open tibial fractures treated with primary internal fixation, VAC, either primary wound closure (PWC) or delayed wound closure (DWC), and external fixation were reviewed retrospectively, and outcomes and complications compared. Patients were divided into three groups, including a PWC group (n = 27), DWC group (n = 22), and a control group (n = 31) that had received external fixation. Among all patients, the median age was 38 years (IRQ 32–47 years), and 67.5% were male. Injuries included 33 Gustilo–Anderson type IIIA and 47 type IIIB. Among injuries, 83% (66/80) were high-energy trauma, 63.8% were contaminated and median injury severity score (ISS) was 14 points. Significant differences were found between groups in fixation methods (p 0.05), although all rates were markedly lower in the PWC group. The outcomes of PWC performed in conjunction with primary internal fixation and VAC for the treatment of Gustilo–Andersen type IIIA and IIIB open tibial fractures are similar to or better than those of DWC with primary internal fixation and VAC.

Objective To assess the outcome of vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC ® ) therapy for infected bypass grafts. Methods A retrospective 7-year review of patient records from 2004 to 2011 of all patients receiving VAC ® therapy for infected bypass grafts. Results Thirty-seven patients with 42 wounds and 45 infected bypass (28 synthetic) grafts received VAC ® treatment. Two serious bleeding episodes from the suture lines occurred. The median VAC ® therapy time was 20 days. The proportion of patent bypass grafts was 91% (41/45) at a median time of 3.5 months from the start of VAC ® therapy. Five patients with seven bypasses had persistent infection or re-infection, and the total graft preservation rate was 76% (34/45). The median follow-up time was 15 months. The presence of two infected bypass grafts in one groin wound was associated with an increased major amputation rate (hazard ratio (HR) 7.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–27.5]), and synthetic graft infection (HR 5.0 [95% CI 1.5–17.4]) and non-healed wound (HR 3.6 [95% CI 1.5–8.7]) were associated with mortality. Conclusion VAC ® therapy of infected bypass grafts was able to induce effective wound healing without compromising the early bypass function. Two infected synthetic bypasses in the wound were associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome.