Project description:The use of vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy in postoperative infections after dorsal spinal surgery was studied retrospectively. Successful treatment was defined as a stable healed wound that showed no signs of acute or chronic infection. The treatment of the infected back wounds consisted of repeated debridement, irrigation and open wound treatment with temporary closure by V.A.C. The instrumentation was exchanged or removed if necessary. Fifteen patients with deep subfascial infections after posterior spinal surgery were treated. The implants were exchanged in seven cases, removed completely in five cases and left without changing in one case. In two cases spinal surgery consisted of laminectomy without instrumentation. In two cases only the wound defects were closed by muscle flap, the remaining ones were closed by delayed suturing. Antibiotic treatment was necessary in all cases. Follow up was possible in 14 patients. One patient showed a new infection after treatment. The study illustrates the usefulness of V.A.C. therapy as a new alternative management for wound conditioning of complex back wounds after deep subfascial infection.
Project description:Esophageal fistulas in the cervical region are usually difficult to manage and carry a high morbidity. We report a case of an esophago-colonic fistula after colonic interposition, successfully managed with vacuum-assisted closure 'V.A.C. system', (Kinetic Concepts Inc., San Antonio, TX, USA). The patient initially presented with purulent fluid from the cervical wound 13 days after surgery. Esophagogram confirmed a leak. Since the patient had a history of anastomotic leaks, a surgical intervention was not the treatment of choice. In light of this, conservative treatment with V.A.C. system was initiated. She underwent full recovery.
Project description:IntroductionManagement of enterocutaneous fistula is challenging with high morbidities and mortalities despite the recent advances in surgical technique. The bad outcomes are a result of associated metabolic complications. Vacuum-assisted closure dressing for the management of enterocutaneous fistula is a relatively new technique with benefit as a bridge to definitive surgery or definitive management in achieving spontaneous closure at a shorter time. In the current report, we share our experience of improvising vacuum-assisted closure dressing for managing postoperative enterocutaneous fistula and achieving spontaneous closure PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a case of a 56-year-old male from Tanzanian with a postoperative discharge of intestinal contents from the wound. He was diagnosed to have a proximal enterocutaneous fistula. After sepsis control and achieving hemodynamic stability, the enterocutaneous fistula was managed with parenteral nutrition, proton pump inhibitors, anti-cathartics, and somatostatin analogs. Endoscopic therapies and fibrin sealants are other described nonoperative interventions for enterocutaneous fistula. The unavailability of these modalities limited us. Vacuum-assisted closure dressing was improvised using gauze pieces, feeding tube, and Op-site dressings at a pressure of -30 mmHg. We achieved spontaneous closure of the proximal enterocutaneous fistula in 32 days.DiscussionThe time to closure was within the range of 12-90 described for conventional vacuum assisted closure dressing, and there were no complications. Close monitoring of improvised VAC dressings is required as the risks are unknown; however, given the known complications of conventional VAC dressing, a risk of hemorrhage and creation of entero-atmospheric fistula exists.ConclusionImprovised VAC dressing for ECF is potentially an acceptable option with promising outcomes in low-resource settings.
Project description:IntroductionIn Northern Europe, vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD) accounts for 6-15% of all deliveries; VAD is considered safe when conducted by adequately trained personnel. However, failed vacuum extraction can be harmful to both the mother and child. Therefore, the clinical performance in VAD must be assessed to guide learning, determine a performance benchmark, and evaluate the quality to achieve an overall high performance. We were unable to identify a pre-existing tool for evaluating the clinical performance in real-life vacuum-assisted births.ObjectiveWe aimed to develop and validate a checklist for assessing the clinical performance in VAD.MethodsWe conducted a Delphi process, described as an interactive process where experts answer questions until answers converge toward a "joint opinion" (consensus). We invited international experts as Delphi panelists and reached a consensus after four Delphi rounds, described as follows: (1) the panelists were asked to add, remove, or suggest corrections to the preliminary list of items essential for evaluating clinical performance in VAD; (2) the panelists applied weights of clinical importance on a Likert scale of 1-5 for each item; (3) each panelist revised their original scores after reviewing a summary of the other panelists' scores and arguments; and (4) the TeamOBS-VAD was tested using videos of real-life VADs, and the Delphi panel made final adjustments and approved the checklist.ResultsTwelve Delphi panelists from the UK (n = 3), Norway (n = 2), Sweden (n = 3), Denmark (n = 3), and Iceland (n = 1) were included. After four Delphi rounds, the Delphi panel reached a consensus on the checklist items and scores. The TeamOBS-VAD checklist was tested using 60 videos of real-life vacuum extractions. The inter-rater agreement had an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.73; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of [0.58, 0.83], and that for the average of two raters was ICC 0.84 95% CI [0.73, 0.91]. The TeamOBS-VAD score was not associated with difficulties in delivery, such as the number of contractions during vacuum extraction delivery, cephalic level, rotation, and position. Failed vacuum extraction occurred in 6% of the video deliveries, but none were associated with the teams with low clinical performance scores.ConclusionThe TeamOBS-VAD checklist provides a valid and reliable evaluation of the clinical performance of vaginal-assisted vacuum extraction.
Project description:Background:Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of reconstructing infected poststernotomy wounds with either vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) after previous debridement or bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps (BPMMFs). Methods:In total, 565 patients with postoperative DSWI were enrolled in this study from January 1, 2014, to June 1, 2018. Of these patients, 247 received BPMMFs. To address the indicated biases, a 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort was created based on age, body mass index, preoperative diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), internal thoracic artery grafting (ITAG), type of cardiac surgery, time before treatment for DSWI and wound classification. After matching, 132 patients who had similar risk profiles were enrolled in the study population (66 in the VAC group: 66 in the BPMMF group). Results:At 21.9±12.1 (median: 24, IQR: 14-28) months of follow-up, the survival rate was 93.9% in the BPMMF group and 74.4% in the VAC group (P<0.01). Compared with the VAC group, the BPMMF group had a significantly decreased length of hospital stay (P<0.01). At the spirometry assessment, the forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1), vital capacity (VC), and FEV1/VC ratio showed no significant differences in survival between the VAC group and BPMMF group. Conclusions:In our study, compared with VAC therapy, BPMMFs guaranteed better early- and late-term outcomes, as shown by less length of hospital stay, a higher rate of long-term survival and unimpaired respiratory function.
Project description:Management of complicated wounds is a challenge in head and neck reconstruction. Although the negative pressure wound therapy or wound vacuum-assisted closure has been widely used in complicated wounds and shows promising results, its application in the head and neck region after reconstruction for the head and neck cancer is rarely presented. A 77-year-old woman underwent a radical resection of an extensive basal cell carcinoma of the scalp and forehead involving the periosteum, where classic reconstruction was difficult, but successfully treated with negative pressure wound therapy. Negative pressure wound therapy is an efficacious tool in cases of complex and extensive defects, when we expect immediate reconstruction with poor results, as would be probable with this scalp lesion.
Project description:BackgroundNecrotizing fasciitis is a rapid and severe soft tissue infection that targets subcutaneous fat tissue, muscle, and fascia. This study compares the clinical outcomes of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) versus conventional dressing on necrotizing fasciitis.MethodsWe systematically searched Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed for clinical trials (published between January 1, 1995 and September 30, 2021), which compared VAC with conventional dressing for necrotizing fasciitis. The mortality rate of necrotizing fasciitis was the primary outcome of this study. The number of debridements, the total length of hospital stay, and the complication rate were secondary outcomes. A random effects model assessed all pooled data.ResultsA total of 230 identified studies and seven controlled clinical trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis (n = 249 participants). Compared to the conventional dressing, patients treated with VAC had a significantly lower mortality rate [OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.09, 0.87)] (P = 0.03). Total length of hospital stays [MD = 8.46, 95% CI (- 0.53, 17.45)] (P = 0.07), number of debridements [MD = 0.86, 95% CI (- 0.58, 2.30)] (P = 0.24), and complication rate [OR = 0.64, 95% CI (0.07, 5.94)] (P = 0.69) were not significant. These results did not show significant differences between both groups treated with VAC or conventional treatment.ConclusionVAC could significantly decrease the death rate compared to conventional dressing. No significant impacts were found on the number of debridements, the total length of hospital stay, and the complication rate in this study. Level of evidence Level-III. Registration Research Registry (reviewregistry1246).
Project description:Background and study aims Esophageal defects (leaks, fistulas, and perforations) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Endoluminal vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) is a novel intervention that entails the use of sponges in the defect along with negative pressure to achieve granulation tissue formation and healing and has been gaining popularity. We performed a systematic review and pooled analysis of available literature to assess the safety and effectiveness of EVAC for esophageal defects. Patients and methods We queried PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science through September 25, 2020 to include all pertinent articles highlighting the safety and effectiveness profile of EVAC for esophageal defects. Pooled rates, 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and heterogeneity ( I 2 ) were assessed for each outcome. Results A total of 18 studies with 423 patients were included (mean age 64.3 years and males 74.4 %). The technical success for EVAC was 97.1 % (CI: 95.4 %-98.7 %, I 2 = 0 %). The clinical success was 89.4 % (CI: 85.6 %-93.1 %, I 2 = 36.8 %). The overall all-cause mortality and adverse events (AEs) noted were 7.1 % (CI: 4.7 %-9.5 %, I 2 = 0 %) and 13.6 % (CI: 8.0 %-19.1 %, I 2 = 68.9 %), respectively. The pooled need for adjuvant therapy was 15.7 % (CI: 9.8 %-21.6 %, I 2 = 71.1 %). Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis showed high rates of technical success, clinical success, and low all-cause mortality and AEs using EVAC. Although the technique is a promising alternative, the lack of comparative studies poses a challenge in making definite conclusions regarding use of EVAC compared to other endoscopic modalities, such as clips and stents.
Project description:Background and study aimsEndoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) of postsurgical leaks is an increasingly applied technique. Precise intracavitary sponge placement is technically challenging. Here, we describe a novel EVAC therapy using a combined external and endoluminal, pull-through technique.Patients and methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we included all patients treated with pull-through EVAC for post-surgery leaks. During endoscopy, the proximal tip of the percutaneous drainage was visualized within the extraluminal abscess cavity, grasped with forceps, and pulled out orally while maintaining the distal end of the drainage above skin level. A foam sponge was fixed to the tip of the percutaneous drainage and sutured to a gastric tube at the other end. The sponge was placed in the cavity by pulling at the percutaneous drainage. Finally, the gastric probe was channeled nasally and suction was applied. Reinterventions comprised pulling the gastric tube, exchanging the sponge, and re-positioning, as described above. Therapy was stopped after closure or complete epithelialization of the leakage.ResultsOverall, seven patients were included between 2021 and 2023. Median duration of pull-through EVAC therapy was 30 days (interquartile range [IQR] 11-37 days) and the median number of endoscopic interventions was six (IQR 4-10). Technical and clinical success was achieved in all (100%) and in six of seven patients (85.7%), respectively. In total, one major bleeding complication associated with EVAC therapy occurred (14.3%).ConclusionsPull-through EVAC therapy is safe and effective in patients with large and challenging postsurgical leaks of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Project description:Background and aimsGI perforations, leaks, and fistulas are types of full-thickness mural defects that frequently occur as adverse events from GI surgeries such as esophagectomy for malignancy and bariatric surgery. Historically, treatment has entailed a combination of reoperation, percutaneous drainage, and bowel rest. Recently, there has been a changing paradigm in the management of these defects. Endoscopic interventions, including endoclipping and placement of self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs), have been increasingly used with good success. Despite this, some defects remain refractory to these techniques. Endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) is a new, promising endoscopic approach to repairing these defects. EVAC works through applying continuous, controlled negative pressure at the defect with the use of an endoscopically placed polyurethane sponge connected to an electronic vacuum device. EVAC has been shown to be feasible, safe, and effective.MethodsWe present a video series of 3 cases demonstrating the successful application of EVAC for the treatment of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy and of fistula formation after bariatric surgery.ResultsTwo patients experienced anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy for esophageal adenocarcinoma, and 1 patient experienced a chronic gastric fistula after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The gastric bypass patient's fistula failed to resolve with over-the-scope-clip placement, and all 3 patients' defects did not heal despite SEMS placement; therefore, EVAC was performed. The bariatric surgery patient required 9 sponge exchanges over 35 days, and the 2 esophagectomy patients each required 3 sponge exchanges over 13 days. All 3 patients had resolution of their defects with EVAC. No adverse events occurred, and all patients have had no recurrence for several months.ConclusionsThese cases help to highlight the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of EVAC for the closure of full-thickness GI defects. On the basis of our experience, the use of EVAC should be considered for these complex and refractory cases.