The benefits of VAC therapy in the management of pressure ulcers.

This study investigates whether vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy, alginate or hydrocolloid dressing are most effective in the treatment of pressure ulcers. A total of 281 patients were included in this study. The response of each patient's wound was monitored, satisfactory wound closure was examined and the time taken to attain satisfactory wound closure was also taken into consideration. An original analysis of the published data was carried out. Most of the pressure ulcers showed some response in all of the categories investigated, with pressure ulcers in the VAC therapy group showing a greater response in all aspects than those in the other two groups.