title: VAC therapy to promote wound healing after surgical revascularisation for critical lower limb ischaemia.
abstract: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy is a new emerging non-invasive system in wound care, which speeds up wound healing by causing vacuum, improving tissue perfusion and suctioning the exudates, and facilitating the removal of bacteria from the wound. The application of sub-atmospheric pressure on the lesions seems to alter the cytoskeleton of the cells on the wound bed, triggering a cascade of intracellular signals that increase the rate of cell division and subsequent formation of granulation tissue. The aim of this study is to analyse the results of VAC therapy used as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of foot wounds in patients affected by critical limb ischaemia (CLI) (Rutherford 6 class) after distal surgical revascularisation, to promote and accelerate the healing of ulcers. Twenty-nine patients (20 males, 9 females; mean age 68·4) affected by CLI of Rutherford 6 class, after surgical revascularisation of the lower limb, underwent VAC therapy in order to speed up wound healing. Complete wound healing was achieved in 19 patients (65·51%), in an average period of 45·4 ± 25·6 days. VAC therapy is a valid aid, after surgical revascularisation, to achieve rapid healing of foot lesions in patients with CLI.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Policlinico G. Martino' Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Caridi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Policlinico G. Martino' Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massara
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Policlinico G. Martino' Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Policlinico G. Martino' Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Narayana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pipitò
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Policlinico G. Martino' Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butrico
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.|Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Franciscis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.|Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Critical lower limb ischaemia; Vacuum-assisted closure therapy; Wound healing