Chronic wound sepsis due to retained vacuum assisted closure foam

doi:10.1136/bmj.b2269

Published 24 June 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2269
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2269

Practice

Lesson of the Week

Chronic wound sepsis due to retained vacuum assisted closure foam

Daniel Beral, specialist registrar¹, Robert Adair, clinical research fellow¹, Adam Peckham-Cooper, foundation year 2 ¹, Damian Tolan, consultant radiologist², Ian Botterill, consultant colorectal surgeon¹

¹ The John Goligher Colorectal Unit, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK, ² Department of Clinical Radiology, Leeds General Infirmary

Correspondence to: I Botterill ian.botterill@leedsth.nhs.uk

Count radiolucent foam pieces used in outpatient vacuum assistedwound closure to prevent chronic sepsis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Vacuum assisted closure therapy is widely used in the managementof complex wounds. Negative pressure in a closed environmentpromotes healing, with a reduction of wound colonisation andan acceleration of ingrowth of the granulation tissue. Vacuumtherapy was originally devised for use in secondary care, buttechnological advancements mean it is now used in primary caretoo. Although the retention of surgical instruments and swabsinside body cavities after surgery is well recognised, the retentionof foam dressings used in vacuum therapy has not been widelyreported. Outside of the ordered theatre environment, however,dressing counts may be overlooked, and with such foam this canhave serious consequences because it is radiolucent.