Vacuum-assisted therapy in soft tissue infected wounds of various etiology in employees of EMERCOM of Russia

Abstract

Presented is an experience with negative-pressure wound treatment (NPWT) in extensive infected wounds in the Department of Burn Trauma, Nikiforov Russian Center of Emergency and Radiation Medicine, EMERCOM of Russia. Treatment outcomes were analyzed in 32 employees of EMERCOM of Russia with wounds of various etiology, including infected postsurgical wounds - 10 patients, burn trauma - 8, bedsores - 6, diabetic foot syndrome - 4, trophic ulcers of the lower limbs of vascular origin - 4 patients. The study group consisted of 18 patients, the control group - of 14 patients. NPWT was used in the study group, and traditional methods - in the control group. According to our data, NPWT considerably speeds up and optimizes healing compared with conservative methods in the control group. In the study group, the mean duration of treatment was (19.3 ± 13.9) vs (40.0 ± 28.2) days in the control group (p < 0.05). NPWT rapidly (within 3-5 days) stimulated proliferation of optimal granulation tissue and stopped inflammation. Besides, wound defects were statistically significantly reduced, and wounds were prepared for a stage of reconstructive plastic surgery.