Application of vacuum dressings as a method of reducing the risk of infection during vascular surgery in patients with skin defects on the foot and lower leg

Introduction. In this study, we present a way to reduce the risk of infection of the vascular intervention zone by isolating the wound infection with a vacuum bandage with permanent removal of the exudate into a separate closed circuit.Materials and methods. In our study, 38 patients underwent open revascularization with critical ischemia. We divided all patients with open interventions into two groups: 18 patients we used VAC systems during surgery (group 1) and 20 patients we operated on with wounds covered with a thick layer ofantiseptic bandages (group 2). Despite the absence of a significant effect on the results of treatment at this stage, we saw a decrease in the frequency of infection of the postoperative wound by 5 times.Discussion. One of the fundamental clinical manifestations can be noted the rapid appearance of granulation tissue, a decrease in the size of the skin defect, as well as a marked decrease in bacterial contamination of the wound surface.Results. The method of VAC bandages during vascular operations may be a new way to prevent infection of postoperative wounds in patients with skin defects.