EFfect of negative-pressure wound therapy (vacuum-assisted drainage) in the management of fascial space infection- A case series

Objectives

The study's objective was to evaluate the results of negative wound therapy as a modality for fascial space infection, including its benefits, limitations, and potential complications.

Materials and Methods

Patients suffering from fascial space infections in the head and neck region that posed a direct threat to the airway were included in the study. Fascial space infections were managed with negative pressure wound treatment. Customized Polyurethane Reticulated Open Cell Foam was employed within wound. The median time of device removal, the volume of drainage fluid, and the healing period were all evaluated.

Result

In this study, a total of 7 individuals with ages ranging from 35 to 79 were enrolled. The average amount of time to remove the Negative wound pressure therapy (NPWT) device was four days (ranging from 3 to 6 days). Within three days following surgery, there was an average amount of drainage fluid of 320 mL (with a range of 180–660 mL), and it took an average of 15 days for the wound to heal completely (ranging from 10 to 21 days).

Conclusion

The amount and frequency of clinician irrigations, the time it took for the white blood cell count to restore to normal levels, and the length of hospitalisation all decreased using negative-pressure wound therapy (vacuum sealing drainage). For patients with head and neck odontogenic fascial space infections, it is thus a potential therapeutic approach.