VAC (Vacuum assisted closure) in the management of chronic non-healing wounds: Institutional study

Background: The management of chronic non- healing wounds has always been a cause of concern for the patients and treating team as well. There had been a marked increase in patients presenting with chronic non -healing wounds of varied etiology. The conventional methods of treatment have been in use traditionally include different medicated dressing application since the long-time yet desired results are not achievable always and some other applications like collagen are mostly not affordable to the poor local population. Vacuum-assisted closure using negative pressure being considered as a suitable alternative management for treating chronic non-healing wounds and the results are comparatively better in relatively lesser time than the conventional techniques. Objective: To assess the impact of (VAC) in the management of non-healing Ulcers To compare the advantage of VAC over conventional dressings in ulcer management Methods: Prospective controlled study of 60 patients aged between 40 and 60 were randomly divided into two groups (Wagner grade 2-5) VAC dressing was kept for over 2-5 weeks. Ulcers were treated until the wound closed spontaneously, surgically or until completion of the 50 days, whichever was earlier. Results: By the seventh week, discharge disappeared in 94 % in VAC and only 56 % in conventional dressing group. Granulation tissue appeared in 100 % of patients in the VAC group and only 63 % in the conventional dressing group. The patients treated with VAC dressing in our study showed comparable wound reduction capabilities with an average wound size reduction of 58 % in comparison to conventional dressing group which had an average wound size reduction of 26 %. Majority of wounds in the VAC group got closed in 7 weeks. Patient satisfaction was very good in the VAC group compared to those patients managed with conventional dressing group. Conclusion: The application of VAC is feasible, reliable and affordable with a better outcome in the management of chronic non-healing ulcers.