Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.2 years in group I and 57.2 years in group II. In both groups, the most common predisposing conditions were diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism, and obesity. Escherichia coli, streptococcal species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently isolated organisms. Length of hospital stay was 27.8 days +/- 27.6 days (mortality: 37.5%) in group I and 96.8 days +/- 77.2 days (mortality: 5.3%) in group II. Enterostomies were performed in 43.8% of group I patients and in 89.5% of group II patients. CONCLUSIONS: VAC was associated with significantly longer hospitalization and lower mortality. A partial explanation is that some patients with severe sepsis died within the first 3 days after admission and thus could not undergo vacuum therapy. Since our clinical experience has shown that vacuum dressings are particularly effective in the management of large wounds, we use VAC primarily for this indication despite the considerable material requirements involved.
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Authors | Ralf Czymek, Andreas Schmidt, Christian Eckmann, Ralf Bouchard, Birgit Wulff, Tillmann Laubert, Stefan Limmer, Hans-Peter Bruch, Peter Kujath |
Journal | American journal of surgery
(Am J Surg)
Vol. 197
Issue 2
Pg. 168-76
(Feb 2009)
ISSN: 1879-1883 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19185110
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Bandages
- Debridement
- Female
- Fournier Gangrene
(surgery)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy
- Wound Healing
- Wounds and Injuries
(therapy)
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