Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the application of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in cervical lymph node tuberculosis (TB).Methods Between Jan 2013 and Jan 2017, a total of 54 patients (23 males and 31 females) who were admitted to Binzhou Central Hospital and diagnosed as cervical lymph node TB were included in the retrospective study. All enrolled patients had received standard anti-TB therapy (4-6 weeks), and then cervical lymph nodes were evaluated via CT. Surgical procedures, such as abscess drainage, lymph node resection, and second suture or flap tamponade suture, were performed. Meanwhile, all were treated with VSD therapy (-125--450mm Hg,1mm Hg=0.133 kPa) about 1-2 weeks. Finally, all patients were followed up 6-12months after 6-9months of anti-TB therapy, wound healing time and the recurrence rate were obtained for statistical analysis.Results There were no perioperative death, no serious complications and no recurrence within a follow-up period. All 54 patients were cured, the wound healing time ranged from 7 to 15days, the hospitalization time ranged from 7 to 22days, and the mean treatment time was (11.23±7.62)days.Conclusion The application of the combination of pre-surgical evaluation, abscess drainage+lymph node resection, VSD treatment and second suture was helpful to repair wound, reduce recurrence rate and hospitalization time.

Key words: Tuberculosis, lymph node, Drainage, Negative-pressure wound therapy, Treatment outcome