Intrathoracic application of negative-pressure or vacuum wound therapy following thoracic empyema surgery

Objective: Negative pressure or vacuum wound therapy (NPVWT) is an established non-invasive active therapy to promote healing of difficult wounds that fail to conventional treatment. We report our experience of the intrathoracic application of a NPVWT-system after failed thoracic surgery for pleural empyema. Methods: Twenty one patients (15 men, 6 women) with a median age of 55 years (range 51 to 82 years) with deep wound infections after thoracotomy and decortication for empyema were treated primarily with NPVWT after initial surgical debridement. All patients had an increased risk for impaired wound healing (e…