The Effect of Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) Therapy in Pressure Ulcer.

, Bok, Soo Kyung; , Yoon, Jong Myung; , Jo, Kyung Ja; , Oh, Sang Hyang; , Hong, Jun Hyoung; , Lee, Young Jin; , Kim, Yoon Mee

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2005;29(1):128-134.

Bok, Soo Kyung , Yoon, Jong Myung , Jo, Kyung Ja , Oh, Sang Hyang , Hong, Jun Hyoung , Lee, Young Jin , Kim, Yoon Mee

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Konyang College of Medicine, Korea. jongeeya@hanmail.net
²Department of Pathology Medicine, Konyang College of Medicine, Korea.

고식적 치료에 반응하지 않은 욕창 환자에서 음압-이용 흡인 치료법의 효과

복수경, 윤종명, 조경자, 오상향, 홍준형, 이영진, 김윤미¹

건양대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실, ¹병리학교실

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the effect of Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) therapy in stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers refractory to traditional saline wet gauze dressing.
Method
Ten patients who had stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers which were failed to heal with saline wet gauze dressing over 4 weeks were investigated. We treated these subjects with V.A.C. therapy. The length, width and depth of pressure ulcers were evaluated every week for 3 weeks. Soft tissue biopsy from pressure ulcer was taken before starting V.A.C. therapy and after the scheduled therapy was done.
Results
The sizes of length, width and depth in pressure ulcer were significantly decreased after one week of V.A.C. application. And then healthy granulation tissue was formed. The length, width and depth of the pressure ulcer were decreased of 40.2%, 42.7% and 79.8% of their original size. Soft tissue biopsy in pressure ulcers was taken in 4 cases, the number and size of capillaries were more increased and inflammatory cells were decreased.
Conclusion
V.A.C. therapy promoted wound healing and revealed favorable histological changes in pressure ulcers refractory to traditional dressing. We suggest that V.A.C. therapy can be used for the effective management of pressure ulcer. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2005; 29: 128- 134)

Key Words: Pressure ulcer, Vacuum-Assisted Closure, Negative pressure management