Negative pressure wound therapy in management of abdominal wound dehiscence: a case-control study

Abstract

Background: Since the 1990’s, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used to treat soft tissue defects, burn wounds, and to achieve skin graft fixation. In the field of abdominal surgery, the application of NPWT is increasing in cases with an open abdominal wound requiring temporary wound closure and a second look operation. In the present study, analyzed negative pressure wound therapy in management of abdominal wound dehiscence.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna,Bihar India. This study was done during from Jan 2016 to December 2016.  Institutional ethical approval was obtained before conducting this study.A total of n=100 cases were included in this study.Out of n=100,50were taken as cases in whom intervention was done by applying VAC Therapy and 50 were taken as control in whom only NS dressing was done.Results:In this study major number of patients belonged to the age group between 40-60 years, Abdominal wound dehiscence were more common in males 71 cases (71%) than females 29 cases (29%). Male to female ratio was 2.4:1. The type abdominal wound dehiscence was most commonly partial thickness wound dehiscence 64 case (64%) and full thickness wound dehiscence were 36 (36%).  There was mean wound contraction of 0.82 cm in post VAC patients compared to0.13 cm in post ns dressing. there was significant decrease in wound sepsis of patient by application of negative pressure wound therapy and  patients with negative pressure wound therapy dressing has more number of healing by secondary intention and nil mortalityrate.Conclusion: NPWT significantly reduces the hospital stay of patients, it causes faster and higher degree of wound contraction, reduces wound sepsis thereby reducing morbidity of patient.

Keywords: Abdominal wound dehiscence, Negative pressure wound therapy, Vaccum assisted closure.