General session IV Moderated by Yoka Yoshimura: A Retrospective Study of Vacuum‐Assisted Closure in Japan

Aim:  Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system, a new method for wound treatment, has been widespread over the world. There are few reports about this treatment in Japan. The purpose of this report is to consider the usefulness of VAC treatment at our department. Methods:  A retrospective review of 24 patients with 27 chronic wounds, which have been treated with VAC, was presented. The following parameters were studied: age, gender, present illness, complications, duration of VAC treatment, and its result. Results:  Eight women and 16 men were presented. The median age was 66.1 years (range, 20–84 years). Eleven of 27 wounds were mediastinitis. Six were pressure ulcers, and nine were other complicated ulcers. Tweleve patients had diabetes mellitus, and nine had hypertension. The median duration of VAC treatment was 32.5 days. Tweleve wounds healed only with VAC, and nine healed with a combination of VAC and small operation. Six were halfway stopped a VAC treatment due to infection. Conclusions:  Our results suggest that VAC system is an alternative treatment for chronic wounds of elder patients with high risk.