Vacuum-Assisted Closure Device: A Useful Tool in the Management of Severe Intrathoracic Infections

The Effect of Vacuum-Assisted Closure on the Bacterial Load and Type of Bacteria: A Systematic Review

“…All patients received systemic antibiotic therapy. The median time of the VAC therapy was 22 days (range 5-66 days), the median number of dressing changes was 6 (range [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], and the mean interval between dressing changes was 3.9 (SD 0.3) days. Two of the 27 wounds were not closed before discharge of the patient.…”

“…The studies included patients with various types of wounds: two studies included patients with infected wounds, 8,9 two studies patients with acute and chronic wounds, 10,11 and one study included patients with various types of wounds. 12,13 In all selected studies, the number of patients was low (between 10 and 30 per treatment group).…”

“…8 The median age of the patients was 64 years and all patients had multiple comorbidities. Patients belonged to one of the following three groups: postresectional empyema (N = 8), severe necrotizing pleuropulmonary infections (N = 7), or intrathoracic gastrointestinal leaks with mediastinitis and empyema (N = 12).…”

A novel facilitated negative-pressure wound therapy for thoracic incision infection after esophagectomy

“…In thoracic surgery, the use of NPWT for sternal infections, complex chest-wall reconstruction infections and severe intrathoracic infection has been reported (9)(10)(11)20,21).…”

“…One or two suction tubes are positioned and drawn transcutaneously through the foam (8). More recently, several studies in which patients with severe intrathoracic infections were managed with intrathoracic NPWT found that NPWT efficiently controlled intrathoracic infections and preserved chest wall integrity (9)(10)(11). However, the efficacy of NPWT in the treatment of thoracic incision infection is unclear.…”