Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: The Role of VAC Therapy Devices in Promoting Closure of Enterocutaneous Fistulae: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: This study hopes to determine if a negative pressure dressing is superior to a traditional dressing for speeding fistula closure after laparotomy. This study has a broad variety of implications. Patient safety is a paramount concern: Investigators hope to identify a superior method of wound management which minimizes risk for skin breakdown, sepsis, and morbidity. In addition, patient satisfaction would be improved with a method for faster wound healing. Finally,implications exist in the realm of a cost-benefit analysis, for example, although the VAC method is more costly, it may save money if it speeds healing and prevents the need for reoperation. Alternatively, if the VAC method is not shown to be beneficial, physicians can avoid using a more costly device with no proven benefit.