Abstract
Meanwhile vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.®) therapy belongs to the standard procedures
in cardiovascular surgery. Its intrathoracal application is mentioned in one unique
case-report in literature. We like to show our first experiences with this technique
demonstrating three cases with pleural infection. One patient with bronchial stump
insufficiency, one with pleural empyema and one with penetrating abscess of the chest
was treated with V.A.C.®-therapy. We applied a combination of microporous silicon
fleece and polyurethan foam in direct neighbourhood to ventilated lung areas inside
the thoracic cavity. One patient died of metastasis of his cancer disease, while wound
situation and bronchial stump insufficiency could be treated well. Two patients could
be treated succesfully and be discharged out of the hospital. No complications due
to V.A.C.®-therapy could be seen, such as fistulas of the lung or bleeding of the
mediastinal organs. Intrathoracal V.A-C.®-therapy can be performed as a good therapeutic
option in the treatment of septic diseases inside the chest.
Schlüsselwörter
Vakuumtherapie - Thoraxchirurgie - Pleuraempyem
Key words
vacuum-assisted closure - thoracic surgery - pleural empyema
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