This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Shahzad G. Raja Geoffrey A. Berg Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raja, S. G. Articles by Berg, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Raja, S. G. Articles by Berg, G. A. Related Collections Cardiac - other Education Related Articles

Should vacuum-assisted closure therapy be routinely used for management of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery?

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Level 9), Western Infirmary Glasgow, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6NT, UK

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 141 211 2000; fax: +44 141 211 1751.

E-mail address: drrajashahzad{at}hotmail.com (S.G. Raja).

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) should be routinely used for management of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery. Altogether, 198 papers were identified using the reported search. A further three relevant papers were identified by hand searching reference lists. Thirteen papers represented the best evidence on the topic. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that VAC provides a viable and efficacious adjunctive method by which to treat postoperative wound infection after cardiac surgery. It is especially useful for managing sternal osteomyelitis in high-risk patients and is an attractive option as a first-line therapy in this group of patients. However, currently the evidence to endorse its routine use for management of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery is weak. A randomised controlled trial comparing VAC therapy with the conventional treatment is mandatory to validate its safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness as a routine first-line therapy for management of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery.

Key Words: Vacuum-assisted closure therapy; Deep sternal wound infection; Cardiac surgery; Evidence-based medicine

Related Articles

ICVTS on-line discussion A Multiple modalities for deep sternal wound infection management

Chung-Dann Kan
Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery 2007 6: 527. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Schimmer, S.-P. Sommer, M. Bensch, and R. Leyh Primary treatment of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery: a survey of German heart surgery centers Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, December 1, 2007; 6(6): 708 - 711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-D. Kan ICVTS on-line discussion A Multiple modalities for deep sternal wound infection management Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, August 1, 2007; 6(4): 527 - 527. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Ibrahim and A. A. Refaat ICVTS on-line discussion B VAC therapy in post cardiac surgery deep sternal wound infection Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, August 1, 2007; 6(4): 527 - 528. [Full Text] [PDF]