The vacuum assisted closure of complex wounds: report of 3 cases

Abstract

Treatment of wounds using conventional methods is frequently limited by inadequate local wound conditions, or by a poor systemic clinical situation. Vacuum system may promote faster granulation tissue formation, remove excessive exudate, increase blood flow in the wound, and attract the borders of the wound to the center, reducing its dimension. We present 3 cases of patients with difficult wounds, due to bad local conditions, or poor clinical situation, in whom we used a vacuum system to prepare the wound for the surgical closure. One patient had a pressure ulcer, another had a diabetic foot ulcer, and the third one had an open foot stump. In the 3 cases a significant improvement of the wound conditions was achieved after 7 to 8 days, allowing successful surgical treatment with flap or skin grafts.

Tratamento cirúrgico de ferimentos descolantes nos membros inferiores: proposta de protocolo de atendimento

“…O aparelho a vácuo consiste em um método auxiliar que vem tendo . Em nosso meio foi primeiro utilizado por Ferreira et al 11,12 . A terapia com pressão negativa proporciona imobilização do enxerto e permite a aspiração de debris, resultando em menor incidência de seroma e hematoma e em uma maior integração do enxerto.…”

Experience with local negative pressure (vacuum method) in the treatment of complex wounds

“…Because there was no previous experience with this method in Brazil, we started to use it in Hospital das Clínicas, Sao Paulo, in 2002. Preliminary results from three patients were published in 2003 3 and we now present our more extensive experience, with results from 29 patients.…”

Experiência inicial com terapia por pressão negativa por instilação em feridas complexas

“…It has simplified and shortened the treatment of complex wounds, constituting a valuable tool in the preparation of the wound bed until its final closure 1 . We use it in our service since 2001.…”