title: Vacuum-assisted closure: a new method for wound control and treatment: animal studies and basic foundation.
abstract: A series of basic animal studies using a new subatmospheric pressure technique (The V.A.C.) to expedite wound healing are presented. The technique entails placing an open-cell foam into the wound, sealing the site with an adhesive drape, and applying subatmospheric pressure (125 mmHg below ambient) that is transmitted to the wound in a controlled manner. Utilizing a pig model, four studies were undertaken to determine the effect of subatmospheric pressure on laser Doppler-measured blood flow in the wound and adjacent tissue (N = 5), rate of granulation tissue formation (N = 10), clearance of bacteria from infected wounds (N = 5), and measurement of nutrient flow by random-pattern flap survival (N = 5). Blood flow levels increased fourfold when 125 mmHg subatmospheric pressure was applied. Significantly increased rates of granulation tissue formation (p < or = 0.05) occurred with both continuous (63.3 +/- 26.1%) and intermittent (103% +/- 35.3%) application. Tissue bacterial counts significantly decreased (p < or = 0.05) after 4 days of application. Random-pattern flap survival significantly increased (p < or = 0.05) by 21% compared to controls. We determined that the application of controlled subatmospheric pressure creates an environment that promotes would healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1075, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morykwas
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Argenta
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Shelton-Brown
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McGuirt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001458:Bandages; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D014022:Tissue Survival / Q000502:physiology; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; C028279:polyurethane foam