The exudate in non-healing wounds decreases or even prevents cell proliferation, interferes with growth factor availability, and generally contains elevated levels of inflammatory mediators and activated metalloproteinases. All these mechanism slow down the wound healing. The authors present their results with NPWT in cases of mesh suppuration.
Patients and methods
All presented patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with only mesh implantation and in all patients mesh suppuration had developed as complication of surgery. Wide exploration, necrosectomy and lavage of the wound was performed than NPWT (Vivano-Med) was started with continuous -120 mmHg suction. After the level of exudate was decreased the NPWT was changed for intermittent mode.
Results
Prevention of the implanted mesh was possible in more than 80% of the patients. Primary wound closure in 72%, secondary wound closure was possible in 25% of the patients. In one patient, plastic surgery was needed for closing of the wound.
Conclusions
The NPWT was successful for evacuating exudate from septic wounds. NPWT has a good effect of the mesh salvage in cases of mesh suppuration.
