A Study of Effectiveness of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Wound Management

Background and objective: Wounds are a major source of morbidity, lead to considerable disability, and are associated with increased mortality; therefore, they have a significant impact on public health and the expenditure of healthcare resources. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) uses negative pressure to assist wound healing. Negative pressure drains fluid from the wound, thus removing the substrate for growth of microorganisms. Negative pressure may also accelerate granulation tissue formation and promote angiogenesis. The mechanical stimulation of cells by tensile forces may also play a role by increasing cellular proliferation and protein synthesis. Methodology: A total of 50 cases clinically presenting as ulcer between January 2018 and July 2018 were taken for study. Each case was examined clinically in systematic manner as per the proforma drafted, for study of all patients presenting with ulcer. VAC dressing was done and outcome was measured by recording wound scores on days 3, 7 and 10. . Interpretation and conclusion: In our study VAC therapy enhanced granulation tissue formation leading to better wound healing, and faster recovery. VAC is thus a promising new technology in the field of wound healing with multiple applications in a variety of wounds and can be used in both acute and chronic wounds, salvage procedures or as an adjuvant therapy to improve the results of various surgical procedures.