Vacuum-assisted healing of various-aetiology wounds: A systematic review

Background. The ever-growing rate of man-made accidents and disasters entails high traumatism. Traumas and other injuries, including purulent necrotic lesions, often lead to extensive wound defects requiring special surgeries for closure and to restore skin integrity.

Objectives. A comparative inter-specialty review in trauma surgery on the vacuum therapy application in healing wounds of different locality and aetiology.

Methods. The review includes relevant cases of use experience in vacuum-assisted healing of various locality and aetiology wounds, indexed in the PubMed, ScienceDirect and eLibrary databases for years 2014–2020. The following research techniques were employed: online, content, historical and descriptive analyses with a focus on specific issues in aetiology, pathogenesis and vacuum-assisted healing of various-locality wounds.

Results. Vacuum-assisted healing of various locality and aetiology wounds is a current standard acting in complex with adequate surgical treatment, antibiotic therapy and early rehabilitation measures.

Conclusion. Manifold literature sources, colleagues’ publications and guidelines for vacuum-assisted closure (VAC®-therapy Guidelines) substantiate the effect and promise of the vacuum-based approach in complex treatment of various-aetiology wounds. Further studies into the mechanisms of action and the elaboration of indications list are warranted for this method.