Negative pressure wound therapy:An update

Purpose:To get the maximum benefit of vacuum-assisted closure(VAC) in the management of acute and chronic wounds without abuse or misuse.Methods:Fourty one patients were included in the study.Among them,9 patients had chronic wounds and the rest 32 patients had acute wounds.In acute wounds,19 patients had co-morbid conditions.Seven patients had gaped wounds,4 patients had necrotizing fasciitis and 2 patients had enterocutaneous fistula.Results:The hospitalization period varied from 1 to 6 weeks.The follow-up period was up to 6 months.No mortality was recorded during this study.All skin grafts showed complete healing.Necrotizing fasciitis was managed with good outcome.Wounds with enterocutaneous fistula have improved.In chronic wounds,good healing and excellent outcome were obtained.Conclusion:The VAC therapy is an essential element for the management of problematic acute and chronic wounds.