Muhammad Nouman Iqbal, Mudassar Noor, Muhammad Tanveer Sajid, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Muhammad Hatif Iqbal, Muhammad Ahmed.
Efficacy of vacuum assisted closure in management of open wounds as compared to moist wound dressing - experience at CMH Rawalpindi.
Pak Armed Forces Med J Jan ;66(4):502-5.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of vacuum assisted closure (VAC) therapy against regular moist wound dressings in reducing the surface area of open chronic wounds by at least 5 mm2 in terms of early closure of wound. Study Design: Randomized controlled trail. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at general surgery department CMH/MH Rawalpindi from Jun 2011 to Dec 2011 over a period of 06 months. Material and Methods: A total of 278 patients (139 in each group) were included in this study. Group A received VAC therapy while moist wound dressings applied in group B. Results: Mean age was 54.9 ±7.2 and 53.4 ± 8.9 years in group A and B, respectively (statistically insignificant (p=0.12). In group A, 96 patients (69.0%) and in group B 92 patients (66.2%) were male while 43 patients (31.0%) in group A and 47 patients (33.8%) in group B were female the difference being statistically insignificant (p=0.608). In group A, 63 (45.3%) patients showed significant reduction in the size of the wound while only 41 (29.5%) patients in group B had adequate wound healing at the end of 04 weeks, the difference being statistically significant (p=0.0064). Conclusion: VAC therapy decreases wound size more effectively than moist wound dressing technique. It definitely reduces hospital stay and ensures early return to work.

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