Use of negative pressure wound therapy after infection and flap dehiscence in radical vulvectomy: A case report

Introduction: Vulvar cancer has a lower incidence in high income countries, but is rising, in part, due to the high life expectancy in these societies. Radical vulvectomy is still the standard treatment in initial stages. Wound dehiscence contitututes one of the most common postoperative complications.

Presentation of case: A 76year old patient with a squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, FIGO staged, IIIb is presented. Radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection with lotus petal flaps reconstruction are performed as the first treatment. Wound infection and dehiscence of lotus petal flaps was seen postoperatively. Initial management consisted in antibiotics administration and removing necrotic tissue from surgical wound. After this initial treatment, negative wound pressure therapy was applied for 37days with good results.

Discussion: Wound dehiscence in radical vulvectomy remains the most frequent complication in the treatment of vulvar cancer. The treatment of this complications is still challenging for most gynecologic oncologist surgeons.

Conclusion: The utilization of the negative wound pressure therapy could contribute to reduce hospitalization and the direct and indirect costs of these complications.