[Impact of vacuum-assisted closure management in deep neck abscesses]

The presence of deep neck abscesses is potentially serious; they can lead to death in a short period of time. The vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy has been used in many areas of surgery for complex wound healing. This treatment modality has recently been considered in the field of head and neck surgery.

Evaluate the efficacy of healing therapy using V.A.C. therapy in deep neck abscesses.

Open-label trial. Patients with deep neck abscesses were included using V.A.C. therapy versus conventional therapy. Cultures were taken before and during surgery, and prior to primary wound closure. The percentages of healing, viable tissue, wound healing time, and hospital stay were evaluated.

A total of 18 patients were included. Affected neck spaces: submaxilar 29%, parapharyngeal 22%, submental 21% and masticatory 13%. The final postsurgical culture was negative in 78%. Viable tissue of the wound for the V.A.C. group was 42%, and for the control group was 36% (p=0.025). Healing time was 22±6 days and 38±15.5, respectively (p = 0.01). The mean number of hospital stay was 12 days for both groups.

Therapy with V.A.C. is useful in the treatment of deep neck abscesses; it decreased healing time as a result of more viable tissue allowing suture closure of the wound in a shorter period.