title: [Indications and safety aspects of vacuum-assisted wound closure].
abstract: Problem wounds continue to challenge medical care. In recent times, good results have been achieved through the application of negative pressure wound therapy. This approach, known as vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) involves the use of a defined,controlled negative pressure over a polyurethane or polyvinyl sponge placed in the wound. The wound effluent is evacuated continuously. The result is an improvement of microcirculation, and wound healing is enhanced. Animal experiments have confirmed an increase in cell growth. The basis for surgical wound management continues to be appropriate debridement. In this connection, negative pressure therapy, as a supportive measure, has proved to have major advantages over traditional methods of wound management, advantages that need to be further investigated clinically and experimentally. Consideration of the safety aspects and risk factors associated with the procedure can contribute to the optimization of therapeutic safety.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstrasse 12, D-91054 Erlangen. horchrd@chir.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Horch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerngross
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mauckner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nord
authors.forename: R U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wetzel-Roth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willy
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D003646:Debridement; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*