ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: To evaluate the role and efficiency of vacuum dressing in thehealing of wounds and to assess the benefits and limitations of using vacuum dressing indifferent types/categories of wound.Methods: The study of 25 cases was conducted in the Department of Surgery of atertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 2 years.Results: Vacuum dressing had a significant effect on the final outcome of wounds.Wounds which seemingly needed a flap surgery in the first impression, withsuccessive application of vacuum dressing cycles, could be covered with a simplesplit thickness skin graft. Many patients were salvaged of a revision amputation asshowed by the decrease in overall amputation rates.Interpretation and Conclusion: Based on the data from the present study and otherstudies available, vacuum dressing results in better healing, with minimalcomplications, and thus looks to be a promising alternative for the management ofvarious wounds. Vacuum dressing leads to faster healing of the wounds, thereforedecreasing the overall hospital stay. Hence, it is cost effective also. It reduces theinconvenience and discomfort caused to the patient by frequent change in dressings.It helps in reducing size of the wounds, has profound effect on wound depth andgranulation as seen in our study. It promotes granulation tissue completely coveringthe tendon, thus enabling simple techniques (e.g., skin graft) rather than formal flapclosure in few cases. Wounds with exposed underlying bone and chronic nonhealing ulcers can be managed well with vacuum dressing. It reduces the number ofamputations and re-debridement required. More number of wounds can be managedsuccessfully with secondary closure or skin grafting after multiple cycles of vacuumdressing. This reduces patient morbidity and minimizes the overall effect on hisquality of life. Good outcome of vacuum dressing also depends on its properapplication.