title: Vacuum assisted wound closure therapy.
abstract: Vacuum assisted closure (VAC) therapy is designed to promote the formation of granulation tissue for faster healing in the wound beds of patients with acute and chronic wounds. Four controlled trials and one interim analysis provide poor quality data and weak evidence that VAC therapy may be superior to conventional methods used in healing wounds. Complications with VAC therapy are uncommon. Studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of VAC therapy when the types of dressings are the same for patients in the groups being compared and VAC therapy is the only differing intervention.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brady
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D002170:Canada; D000075202:Contraindications; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018795:Device Approval; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017592:Skin Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*