[The use of negative pressure therapy in vascular surgery: experience of a single center]

Prospective and unicentric review of the use of negative pressure wound therapy in patients with acute and chronic vascular pathology.

Between January 2010 and February 2012, there were 26 patients treated with negative pressure therapy, with a mean age of 60 years (± 14 years), 69% of which male. The most frequently encountered comorbidities were hypertension (66%), followed by diabetes mellitus (50%) and dyslipidemia (38%). 8% had chronic renal failure. The hospitalization was due to ischemic ulcers in 23%, complicated venous ulcer in 13%, diabetic foot in 8% and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in 8%. The main reason for the application of negative pressure therapy was accelerate healing (62%), followed by infection control (46%). Two patients started application for abdominal compartment syndrome. All patients started treatment after hospitalization, with an average of 26 days after admission, having made application for about 13 days (± 8 days), with a medium pressure and number of exchanges, respectively, of 106mmHg (± 12 mmHg) and 3 exchanges (± 1.5).

Therapeutic success was obtained in 23 patients (88%), with 2 submitted to major amputation. There were 3 deaths from causes unrelated to vacuotherapy. The average number of days of hospitalization after-treatment was 15 and 88% of patients underwent secondary procedures, 50% of which were cutaneous plasty. In two cases, the treatment was prolonged to ambulatory.

Beginning about 15 years ago, the application of negative pressure in wound therapy has been having a growing indication, with positive results in the clinical evolution of patients, as exemplified by the results of the service experience.