Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for postoperative secondary peritonitis: Effect on bacterial load as well as local and systemic cytokine response (initial results).

Background: It is still a matter of debate what the best management of peritonitis is following eliminating the source of infection. This particularly concerns the amplitude of local and systemic inflammatory response as well as bacterial clearence at the infectious site.

Aim: To investigate the effects of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) vs.

First-in-man results of a novel vascular graft coated with resorbable polymer for aortic reconstructions--a multicenter, non-randomized safety study.

Objectives: The purpose of this "first-in-man" study was to investigate the safety of a novel vascular polyester prosthesis coated with a resorbable polymer and free of any animal-based coating agents such as gelatin or collagen.

Methods: In a nonrandomized first-in-man multicenter safety study, the frequency of perigraft seroma (PGS) as the primary endpoint was studied in consecutive patients undergoing aortic reconstructions. The follow-up control to study the primary endpoint was intended at 3 months under routine clinical conditions.