Successful application of vacuum-assisted closure therapy for treatment of mastitis-associated chronic breast wounds.
BACKGROUND
Although non-puerperal mastitis is rare and its cause is rather unclear, the number of patients diagnosed with this defect is increasing. In some cases, standard therapy fails and it progresses to a chronic disease. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has shown good results in healing complex wounds.


METHODS
The goal of this study was to evaluate our experiences with VAC therapy and to answer the question whether or not should be accepted as an effective treatment in healing chronic wounds caused by non-puerperal mastitis. Retrospectively, we identified five patients with a non-puerperal mastitis chronic wound that was treated using VAC and report on their outcome.


RESULTS
We reached both wound control and closure of the breast wounds in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our findings, the VAC therapy can be considered when managing challenging breast wounds, particularly when other therapeutic options have failed. The role of VAC therapy as a primary therapeutic option has not yet been evaluated.
Luedders
Doerte W
DW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. doerte.luedders@uk-sh.de
Bohlmann
Michael K
MK
Hornemann
Amadeus
A
Dittmer
Christine
C
Diedrich
Klaus
K
Thill
Marc
M
D000038:Abscess / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008413:Mastitis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000628:therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*