VAC therapy normalizes vascular response of injured tissue in full-thickness wounds in rabbits

V.A.C. Therapy applied to a cutaneous wound was hypothesized to alter vascular regulation in underlying tissue. Two full-thickness wounds were created on the dorsum of 7 New Zealand albino rabbits. One site was treated with V.A.C. Therapy; the other, with saline-moistened gauze. Local perfusion levels in the muscle were measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. Using vena caval occlusion, blood pressure was decreased progressively from baseline under vasonormal conditions and during systemic infusion of a vasodilator and a vasoconstrictor. The pressure-flow relationships for the carotid and V.A.C. Therapy-treated wound sites showed 3 distinct curves, with vasodilator curves shifted upwards and vasoconstrictor curves downwards relative to vasonormal curves (P < 0.05). By contrast, vasodilator Curves in the saline-gauze treated sites were indistinguishable from vasonormal curves. Thus, in a rabbit model, application of V.A.C. Therapy to cutaneous wounds normalized the vascular response to vasoactive drugs in a manner similar to undisturbed carotid circulation.