The most effective method of treatment for venous ulcers resistant to conservative therapy is operation.
The surgical procedure consists of resection of the entire ulceration followed by perforated middle-split thickness skin graft transplant. Postoperative treatment requires both long term elevation of the patient's leg and frequent dressing changing.
<bold>The aim of the study</bold> was to assesses the effectiveness of TNP as a method supporting surgical treatment.
<bold>Material and methods.</bold> From 2004 to 2006 in the Poznań Clinic of General and Vascular Surgery of Medical University, 25 patients (16 women and 9 men) were treated for venous ulcers resistant to conservative treatment. The patients' ages varied from 50 to 82 years (average: 69), and the time of ulceration presence ranged from 6 months to 6 years (average: 2 years and 5 months). Patients were divided into two groups: all patients in group I (n=14) underwent surgical treatment with the use of middle split thickness skin grafting, whereas all patients in group II (n=11) underwent surgical treatment with support of TNP - VAC® Subsequent parameters, including the time of hospitalization, time and effectiveness of skin graft healing, and patient's subjective comfort of the therapy, were analyzed.
<bold>Results.</bold> The average hospitalization time was significantly shorter in group II than group I (18 vs 24 days, p<0.0005). The average healing time in group II was significantly shorter than that in group I (31 vs 42 days, p<0.00002). Additional skin grafting was necessary in four cases from group I but none from group II. Subjective therapy comfort was higher among patients from group II than group I.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> TNP is a useful method supporting the surgical treatment of venous ulcers that are resistant to conservative treatment.