Outcomes of vacuum-assisted closure therapy in postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence: A study in a tertiary care unit
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background: Postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence is a significant complication of surgery that often leads to increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, and increased costs. Vacuum-assisted closure therapy is utilized for healing of various wounds by removing excess exudates, decreasing bacterial load, promoting granulation tissue, and keeping the wound moist. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was performed on 40 patients who underwent vacuum-assisted closure therapy for sheath dehiscence and 40 patients who were treated with normal saline irrigation postsurgery. They were assessed for outcomes such as wound healing time, need for a secondary intervention, infection control, and duration of hospital stay. Results: In the 40 patients who underwent vacuum-assisted closure therapy, healthy granulation tissue was achieved at a mean of 8 ± 3 days. The mean duration of hospital stay was 10 ± 4 days. Notably, 19 (47.5%) patients underwent secondary suturing at a mean time of 8 ± 3 days. During follow-up, 20 (43%) patients healed by secondary intention at a mean duration of 25 ± 5 days. The remaining five patients underwent skin grafting at a mean of 37 ± 7 days. Culture positivity of 80% and 92.5% was seen before treatment among patients with vacuum-assisted closure and normal saline treatment, respectively, which reduced to 7.5% and 47.5% after treatment. The wound size significantly decreased in terms of width ( P < 0.001) and depth ( P = 0.003), but no significance was noticed in length ( P = 0.373). Conclusions: Vacuum-assisted closure therapy is an effective treatment for postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence for controlling local sepsis, preventing septicemia, burst abdomen, and promotion of early granulation tissue, thereby enabling cutaneous cover.
Source: Formosan Journal of Surgery
Language: English
Topic: Wound Healing and Treatments
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415375967