Vacuum-assisted closure technique fastens the healing of deep sternal wound infection

ABSTRACT

To compare the Vacuum-Assisted Closure technique to the conventional wound management in the treatment of patients with deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery. A total of 4400 patients underwent open heart surgery at Queen Alia Heart Institute between July 2001 and July 2005.Thirty six patients developed poststernotomy deep sternal wound infections [0.8%].These patients were treated by two different modalities. Twenty patients [group I] were treated by the conventional wound management. The other [group II] 16 patients were treated by Vacuum Assisted Closure Technique. The two groups were comparable with regards to age, sex, weight, associated diseases, presenting postoperative day, infecting organism, and risk factors for deep sternal wound infection. Patients treated by Vacuum Assisted Closure [group II] had a lower mean duration treatment time 10.5 days while the mean duration treatment time was 32 days in group I .Mean hospital duration stay was 17.6 days in group II, however it was 40 days in group I. Mean long term follow up period of both groups was six [range 2-14] months. Re-admissions and repeated surgical procedures was 30% in group I and 12.5% in group II. Perioperative mortality was higher in group I [10%] than in group II [6.25%]. The Vacuum-Assisted Closure Technique for deep sternal wound infection management has many advantages over conventional methods. Vacuum Assisted Closure offers the benefits of an optimal physiological environment of closed technique and the efficient removal of necrotic debris seen with the open technique. Moreover, Vacuum Assisted Closure shortened wound healing and hospital stay, cost-effective, and safe