Abstract: Objective To introduce the early experience of using vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in the treatment of wound dehiscence after thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Methods This report retrospective1y analyzed the clinical data of 12 patients who underwent VAC in the treatment of wound dehiscence after thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of the Logistics University of CAPF between October 2010 and October 2011. There were 7 male patients and 5 female patients with their mean age of 64.3 years (ranging from 39 to 80 years). All patients underwent operation via median sternotomy or lateral thoracic incision. All the wound dehiscence was deep to sternum or rib. After debridement of necrotic tissue, the wound surfaces were covered with VAC sponges, and intermittent negative pressure therapy was used. The VAC sponges were changed every 7-10 days. Results All the patients underwent an average of 2 times to change the VAC sponges during VAC treatment. After VAC treatment, the edema around the surgical wounds gradually disappeared, and the granulation tissue was refreshed. The overall conditions of all the patients were improved. The patients could leave their bed, walk in the ward, and look after themselves. Antibiotic treatment was no longer used. The residents checked up the negative pressure system every day to see whether it worked well. The patients were no longer afraid of changing dressing and pain every day. All the patients were healed, discharged from the hospital and followed up at outpatient department for a mean time of 7 months. Their wounds all healed well during follow-up. Conclusion VACsystem is easy to use. It can facilitate the healing of wound dehiscence quickly, decrease the inflammatory reaction of local wound and the body, and shorten the rehabilitation time. It’s also helpful to reduce the residents’ work load. It is recommended in the treatment of wound dehiscence after thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.
Objective To evaluate outcomes of vacuum sealing drainage(VSD)for the treatment of wound infection after cardiac surgery.?Methods?We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 70 patients(with valvular heart disease,congenital heart disease or coronary heart disease)who underwent cardiac surgery via mid-sternotomy and had postoperative wound infection from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2012 in General Military Hospital of Guangzhou Command. According to different treatment strategy for wound infection, all the patients with wound infection (incision longer than 5 cm) were randomly divided into VSD group (n=35) and control group(n=35) by random number table,while VSD treatment was used for patients in VSD group and routine treatment was used for patients in control group. Treatment outcome,duration of wound infection, duration of antibiotic treatment and treatment cost were compared between the two groups.?Results?There was no in-hospital death in both groups. Wound exudate significantly decreased and fresh granulation tissue grew well in the wound in most VSD group patients after VSD treatment. The cure rate of VSD group was significantly higher than that of control group (94.3% vs. 60.0%,P<0.05). Duration of wound infection (12.9±3.4 d vs. 14.8±4.1 d;t=-2.094,P=0.040)and duration of antibiotic treatment (7.0±1.5 d vs. 8.3±1.9 d;t=-2.920,P=0.005) of VSD group were significantly shorter than those of control group. There was no statistical difference in treatment cost between the two groups. Fifteen patients in VSD group were followed up (42.9%) for 3 months with good wound healing, and 20 patients in VSD group were lost in follow-up.?Conclusion?VSD is effective for the treatment of wound infection after cardiac surgery with shortened treatment duration and similar treatment cost compared with routine treatment.
ObjectiveTo investigate etiology of granulomatous mastitis and it,s conservative treatment method. MethodThe clinical data of 120 patients with granulomatous mastitis given drugs for closed treatment plus massage dredge and ductal lavage from January 2011 to December 2012 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsOne hundred and one cases were cured following conservative treatment for 2 to 8 weeks,19 cases were underwent surgical treatment because of poor outcome.Nine of 101(8.9%) cured patients were relapsed for following-up of 30 to 42 months. ConclusionClosed treatment with drugs,which is effective,could keep patient with granulomatous mastitis from having mastectomy and reduce recurrence.
Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) combined with debridement for treatment of deep infection after hip or knee replacement. Methods Between September 2006 and May 2010, 13 cases of deep infection after joint replacement surgery were treated, including 5 males and 8 females with an average ageof 62.5 years (range, 56-78 years). Infection occurred at 7 days to 1 year and 2 months (median, 14 days) after joint replacement surgery. The time from infection to admission was 8 days to 4 years and 6 months (median, 21 days). Purulent secretion with or without blood were observed in all patients; sinus formed in 5 cases; and unhealing of incision or drainage opening disunion were observed in 8 cases. The size of skin defect at secretion drainage or sinus opening site was 5 mm × 3 mm to 36 mm × 6 mm; the depth of drainage tunnel or sinus was 21-60 mm. The histopathological examination in 11 patients showed acute infection or chronic infection with acute onset in 10 cases, and tuberculosis in 1 case. In 6 cases of secretion culture, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 5 cases. After thorough debridement, wound irrigation was performed during the day and VSD during the night in 10 cases. VSD was merely performed in 3 cases. Results In 1 case after revision total hip arthroplasty, the wound bled profusely with VSD, then VSD stopped and associated with compression bandage, VSD proceeded again 3 days later with no heavy bleeding. All the patient were followed up 1 year to 4 years and 5 months (mean, 2 years and 11 months). Infection were controlled 7-75 days (mean, 43 days) after VSD in 10 cases. In these cases, prosthesis were reserved, no recurrent infection was observed, wound were healed, limb function were reserved. VSD was refused in 1 case because of hypersensitive of the pain at the vacuum site, infection control was failed and amputation at the thigh was proceeded. The effect was not evident in 1 case with tuberculosis infection, then the prosthesis was removed and arthrodesis was proceeded followed by complete union. In 1 case, infection was cured with VSD, recurrent infection happened after 9 months, antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer was used at end, and no recurrence was observed 1 year and 4 months later. Conclusion VSD combined with debridement can drainage deep infection sufficiently, promote wound healing, reduce recurrent infection rate, maximize the possibil ity of prosthesis preservation.
Objective To investigate the cl inical effect of vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) on late-stage large skin avulsion injury with infection. Methods From May 2007 to August 2008, 9 patients with large-area skin avulsion injury and infection were treated. There were 1 male and 8 females aged 9-52 years old (median 27 years old). All patients suffered from closed skin avulsion injury involving the lower back, buttock, and part of the thigh. The injury area varied from 30 cm × 25 cm to92 cm × 38 cm. The time between injury and hospital admission was 15-23 days. The skin avulsion injury was compl icated with pelvis fracture, urethral injury, anal injury, sacrum exposure, and l imb fractures. The interval between hospital admission and operation was 3-23 hours. Free spl it-thickness skin graft was performed after the focus debridement and three VSD treatments (40-60 kPa). Results After three VSD treatments, no patient had general pyemia and severe local tissue necrosis or infection, the tissue edema in the skin avulsion area was alleviated obviously, and all the wound cavities were closed. All the wounds in the graft site healed after 28-45 days of treatment (average 39 days), and all the donor sites healed. Nine patients were followed up for 4-14 months (average 10 months). The appearance of the reparative area was good, and there was no occurrence of joint dysfunction in the injured area due to scar contracture. Conclusion VSD is effective in treating late-stage large skin avulsion injury with infection.
To investigate the method of using vacuum seal ing drainage (VSD) technique to repair the wound of the injured in Wenchuan earthquake and its therapeutic effect. Methods From May 12, 2008 to June 12, 2008, 52 injured persons (83 wounds) were treated, including 27 males and 25 females aged 11-83 years old (average 42 years old). There were 22 cases of crush injury, 9 cases of contusion and laceration injury, 17 cases of compression injury receiving incision decompression of fascia compartment and 4 cases of open amputation. And 37 wounds were on the leg, 13 woundson the thigh, 17 wounds on the forearm, 11 wounds on the upper arm and 5 wounds on the trunk. The wound ranged from3 cm × 2 cm to 30 cm × 15 cm, and the time from injury to undergoing VSD treatment was 12 hours-18 days. After complete debridement, the wound was covered by VSD dressing, and antibiotics were given according to the result of drug sensitive test. When wound infection was under control and granulation tissues grew well, the method of either direct suture or skin grafting or flap transposition was used to repair the wounds. Results In 21 cases (40.4%), wound secretion smear was positive, and multiple species of bacteria were detected, such as staphylococcus aureus, escherichia col i, proteus and klebsiella pneumoniae. After initial operation, 7 injured persons were transferred to the hospital outside of Sichuan province for further treatment. VSD treatment was performed on 33 cases (45 wounds) once, 6 cases (10 wounds) twice, 2 cases (3 wounds) three times and 1 case (1 wound) four times, resulting in the control of wound infection and the growth of granulation tissue. Then the wounds were repaired by either direct suture or skin grafting or flap transposition. Three cases (4 wounds) underwent VSD treatment ten times, leading to the control of infection and the stabil ity of condition. Conclusion VSD treatment can cover the wound promptly, el iminate contamination, prevent secondary infection and benefit late-stage wound repair. During the process of treatment, no medical necessity for frequent change of dressing can rel ieve the pain suffered by the injured and decrease theworkload of medical stuff, thus facil itating the rescue work.