The Effect of Vacuum Assisted Closure Dressing Technique versus Conventional Dressing on Diabetic Foot Wound Healing

Diabetic foot ulcers affect millions of people in all the world and impose tremendousmedical, psychosocial and financial loss. They also represent a major use of health resources,incurring costs not only for dressings, but also staff costs (for podiatrists, nurses, doctors), testsand investigations, antibiotics and specialist foot wear. Therefore, nurses need up to dateknowledge concerning managing wounds with using appropriate strategies to control infection,promote wound healing and prevent recurrence to ensure successful out comes for thosepatients. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is generally well tolerated and appears tostimulate a granulation tissue response compared with other wound healing modalities. Thisdevice may be a cost-effective adjunctive wound healing therapy. Objective: Determine the effectof vacuum assisted closure dressing technique versus conventional dressing on diabetic footwound healing: the present study follows aquasi-experimental research design. Setting: Thestudy was conducted at Diabetic Foot Care Unit of Alex University and Royal Vascular Center.Subjects: The study was conducted on a convenient sample of 40 patients, who were divided intotwo sequential groups. One group received VAC dressing while the other group receivedconventional saline moistened gauze dressing. Tools: Tool I: Diabetic Foot Wound AssessmentStructural Interview Schedule and Tool II: Wound Healing Assessment Observational Checklist.Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of appearance of granulationtissue between the two groups; with granulation tissue appearing earlier in the study group. Thestudy group promised a better outcome as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Using ofVAC therapy yield improved wound healing in comparison to their control in patient withdiabetes mellitus more over the majority of studied patients who had faster and more effectivewound healing. Recommendations: Study of the effect of VAC therapy on infected diabeticwound healing VAC therapy should be used in all grades of diabetic foot wound.