title: Vacuum-assisted ladder closure: an innovative prospect.
abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has gained great recognition for its positive effects on enhancing the complex wound healing process. The aim of this limited presentation was to introduce the vacuum-assisted ladder closure (VALC) method as a novel wound care modality used in conjunction with NPWT that reduces wound closure time in complex wounds. Two patients with complex abdominal wounds were identified for this prospective study from August 2011 through October 2011. As this presentation shows, the use of the VALC method appears to reduce complex wound closure times significantly, as compared with the use of NPWT alone. As a result, there may be decreased risk for potential complications such as infection, disfiguration, scar tissue formation, and needless pain and suffering. Through the positive results represented in this limited presentation, the VALC method of wound care used in complex wounds validates the need for further research.
authors: Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital, Denver, CO, USA. amdesign62@comcast.net
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Miller
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology