Comparison of vacuum and conventional wound dressings for full thickness skin grafts in the minipig model

SO₂-levels by group and day. Note the low levels of the vacuum group for the first 3 days after transplantation and similar values starting from day 4 (relative units).

Haemoglobin levels over time by dressing group. The values were slightly higher in the vacuum dressing group over the whole observation period (relative units).

Flow values for the two groups over 10 days. Note the low values during the first 3 days in both groups and the increase afterwards (relative units).

Velocity values over time for the groups. The deepest levels in the vacuum group could be observed on days 2–3, in the classic dressing group on days 3 and 4 (relative units).

Transplants on the first day with an intact epidermal and dermal layer (×5) (a) HE; (b) CD31. (c) On day 3 (×10) the cutaneous–subcutaneous transition zone showed vital tissue with infiltration of lymphocytes and granulocytes, reflecting acute inflammation. (d) In the CD31 staining single capillaries are already detectable in the graft. On day 5 (×10) (e) HE an increasing neoformation of vessels can be seen, along with the neoformation of fibrocytes (f) CD31. In both groups, on day 7 (×10) numerous capillaries are embedded in the regenerated cutaneous–subcutaneous tissue (g) HE; (h) CD31.