A comparative study between vacuum assisted wound closure vs conventional dressing in non-healing ulcers

Abstract

In a surgical ward, acute and continual wounds have an effect on a minimal of 1% of the population. Vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) is a technique of Negative pressure in the wound to improve the healing process. To study the advantage of a vacuum assisted closure over conventional dressing in the management of chronic non-healing diabetic ulcers. To study the difference in the rate of amputation, hospital stays in case and control groups. Group1-case group – vacuum associated closure therapy. Group 2-Control group -conventional dressings. Most of the patients in the study population was in the age group of 41 -60 years. 82% of the study population was within the age group of 41-60 years. The two groups are comparable with their baseline characteristic of age, and the P-value is less than 0.05. Wounds were more common in males than females. Out of the 44 patients, 26 were male, i.e. 57% of the study population were males. About 68% of wounds occurred in the foot. About 50% of the culture showed staphylococcus. Nearly 27% of study participants had no growth. The hospital stay is less in VAC dressing when compared to the conventional dressings, who have an average hospital stay of 28 days and the relation is statistically significant (p-value<0.05). Mean hospital stay in Vacuum is 21 compared to stay of 28 in conventional dressings group. Patients in Vacuum had 12 SSG,9 discharge and 1 amputation. There is no statistically significant association in terms of grade of ulcer between the two groups(P =0.23). There is a statistically significant association between VAC and conventional in terms of the results of the Doppler study. (P<0.01). From the study results, it is obvious that VAC dressing has many advantages in terms of Low no of amputation, Earlier discharge, Minimal infection, Lesser complications, Healing in a better way.