Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) Treatment In Thoracic Surgery: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in thoracic surgery patients who developed chronic infections or large tissue defects for different reasons. Methods: A total of 10 patients who underwent VAC therapy in our clinic between February 2017 and December 2020 were included in the study. Age, gender, length of hospital stay, primary pathology etiology, duration of VAC stay, number of sponge changes, microbiological culture results from the wound site, recurrence, presence of comorbidity, morbidity, and mortality data of the patients were analyzed. Results: Of the 10 patients, 7 were male and 3 were female. The mean age was 47 (23–71). The average length of hospital stay was 61.3 days (13–141 days) and the mean VAC stay was 43.2 days (12–102 days). VAC changes were made at 3–4-day intervals and it was determined that changes were made every 3.6 days on average. Two patients were treated for gunshot wounds, one for sternal dehiscence (SD) after coronary bypass surgery, one for traumatic tissue defect due to fall from height, one for bronchopleural fistula (BPF) and empyema after cyst hydatid surgery, and three for chronic infection after chest wall malignant mass (two primary, one metastasis) resection and two for BPF after pulmonary resection (primary lung cancer). The most commonly isolated microorganism in wound cultures was the pseudomonas subspecies. Two patients were re-treated after the completion of VAC treatment. No mortality was observed in the patients during hospitalization or after discharge. Conclusion: VAC application is a system that works on the basis of controlled negative pressure used to support and accelerate wound healing in wounds or infections where there is no normal healing. VAC is a useful and safe method for the management of thoracic infections and the reduction of dead space.