title: The use of vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of post-transplant wound infections: a case series.
abstract: We present 6 cases of the successful use of vacuum-assisted closure dressings as the primary treatment of wound infection after thoracic organ transplantation. In a series of 160 successive transplant operations, deep wound infections developed in 6 patients (3.7%). These all fully resolved over 3 to 29 days with the use of vacuum dressings. We believe vacuum-assisted closure therapy in the context of heart and lung transplantation is effective, well tolerated, and avoids the need for repeated surgical debridement and reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. tomroutledge@mac.com
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Routledge
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saeb-Parsy
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ritchie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011140:Polyurethanes; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes