Topical negative pressure therapy. A very useful new method to treat severe infected vascular approaches in the groin.
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of infected vascular surgery sites is challenging. Negative pressure applied uniformly to the entire wound surface has been shown to allow granulation tissue formation and to promote healing of acute and chronic wounds.


METHODS
We used the Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC, Kinetic Concepts Incorporated, San Antonio, Texas, USA) system in 4 patients with severe groin wound infection after emergency surgery on the femoral artery.


RESULTS
In all 4 patients, general health improved and the wound changed rapidly from a large infected cavity to a minor lesion readily covered using a simple surgical technique.


CONCLUSIONS
This study establishes VAC as a very valuable tool for managing severe complications of groin vascular surgery sites even in patients with obesity and/or diabetes mellitus.
Demaria
R G
RG
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, Montpellier, France. roland.demaria@wanadoo.fr
Giovannini
U M
UM
Téot
L
L
Frapier
J-M
JM
Albat
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006119:Groin / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology