Negative pressure wound therapy.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, also known as Vacuum Assisted Closure (V.A.C.), is a new treatment in which controlled negative pressure is used to provide evacuation of wound fluid, stimulation of granulation tissue, and a decrease in bacterial colonization. A brief discussion of the physiology of wound healing is accompanied by an explanation of vacuum assisted wound closure. Indications and contraindications for V.A.C. are discussed. The authors present several case studies of patients with nonhealing wounds who benefitted from V.A.C.