title: Vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of complex gynecologic wound failures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complex wound failures are a source of significant morbidity and mortality. They are costly and time consuming to treat, and may evolve into chronic, debilitating conditions. Vacuum-assisted closure is a novel wound healing technique applying subatmospheric pressure to wounds to expedite healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the successful use of vacuum-assisted closure therapy on three patients on a gynecologic oncology service with complex wound failures of various chronicity. In all cases, vacuum-assisted closure therapy was well tolerated and demonstrated efficacy within 48 hours of initiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that vacuum-assisted closure therapy should be included in the armamentarium of the gynecologist addressing complex wound failures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA. peter.argenta@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Argenta
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: Herbert F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gretz
authors.forename: Farr
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nezhat
authors.forename: Carmel J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D009852:Omentum / Q000601:surgery; D010052:Ovariectomy; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000628:therapy*; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing