[The use of negative pressure wound therapy to treat wound necrosis and groin lymphorrhea after inguinal lymph nodes dissection: a case report].

Wound necrosis and groin lymphorrhea after inguinal lymph nodes dissection are serious complications. But treatment options for these complications are somewhat controversial. We report a patient who underwent an inguinal lymph node dissection for a regional metastasized squamous cell carcinoma of penis. Unfortunately, a extensive wound necrosis occurred with lymphorrhea (300 cc daily). After operative debridement, negative pressure wound therapy was started. We had used the instrument "V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) ATS Therapy System" (KCI U.S.A.). After 11 days of negative pressure wound therapy, the good formation granulation tissue was observed and the lymphatic leakage was prominently decreased. This therapy was performed without serious complications but tolerable localized pain due to negative pressure. There were only seven reports that gave the description of an approach using negative pressure wound therapy for the less invasive treatment of lymphocutaneous fistulas and evaluated the efficacy of this therapy as an alternative medical procedure for treating lymphorrhea. This case suggested that negative pressure wound therapy could not only promote wound healing but also improve intractable lymphorrhea.