title: VAC therapy for the treatment of complex wounds after cardio-thoracic surgery.
abstract: The aim of this study is to report our experience about the treatment of complex sternal and thoracic wounds following cardiothoracic surgery, using vacuum-assisted closure (VAC therapy. Twelve patients presenting with sternal (five cases) and thoracic (seven cases) wounds that were difficult to heal were treated through VAC therapy after the first surgical debridement. The duration of VAC application ranged from 12 to 36 days with an average hospital stay of 24·6 ± 11·4 days. During a mean follow-up of 12 months, we observed complete wound healing in seven cases (58·3%), in an average period of 25·5 ± 14·3 days; one patient died during follow-up, two patients were lost to follow-up and two patients required definitive surgical closure of the wound cavity. In conclusion, VAC therapy promotes faster wound healing, with shorter hospital stay and subsequent lesser in-hospital cost, reducing the mortality rate in the long run. It also promotes early rehabilitation and alleviates the need for a second procedure, thus improving patient satisfaction, with minimal discomfort or inconvenience.
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: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. rserra@unicz.it.|Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. rserra@unicz.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
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: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butrico
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastroroberto
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, 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: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, "Policlinico G. Martino" Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Cardiothoracic surgery; Dehiscence; VAC; Vacuum-assisted closure; Wound healing