[Current clinical applications of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in vascular surgery]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in vascular patients presenting limb ulcers or non healed amputations. The efficacy of the VAC was studied in terms of healing, walking distance, and autonomy of life. This retrospective study included 14 patients, 11 men and three women, who were treated by a VAC therapy between December 2003 and February 2007. Two patients presented critical ischemia with limb ulcers and 12 patients non healed amputations despite previous revascularisation. Vascular reconstruction was performed in all cases before the VAC therapy. The rate of wound healing with VAC therapy was 87%. After wound healing, 92% of patients were walking and 62% of them were independent. In conclusion, VAC therapy may be a useful tool to accelerate healing of lower-limb wounds or non healing wounds secondary to amputation, allowing a faster recovery with a good level of autonomy.