UGM Student Develops Affordable RAP-VAC Innovation for Wound Therapy
Summary: A doctoral student at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKKMK UGM), Meirizal, has created RAP-VAC (Reverse Aqua Pump–Vacuum Assisted Closure), an affordable innovation in negative pressure wound therapy. Commercial VAC systems accelerate healing but are prohibitively expensive in resource-limited settings. In a non-inferiority randomized clinical trial at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital (Yogyakarta), RAP-VAC demonstrated comparable efficacy to standard VAC in wound granulation, time to reconstruction, and patient comfort among 24 patients with complex wounds requiring skin grafting. RAP-VAC showed advantages in lower wound infection rates and significantly reduced treatment costs. This cost-effective alternative supports preparation of complex wounds for advanced surgical reconstruction and has strong potential for broader adoption in developing countries facing high chronic wound burdens.
Key Highlights:
- RAP-VAC matches commercial VAC in granulation and healing outcomes but at much lower cost
- Non-inferiority RCT (n=24): no significant differences in key metrics; better infection control in RAP-VAC group
- Designed for complex wounds as a bridge to skin grafting in hand/microsurgery reconstruction
- Developer: Meirizal (doctoral student, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, UGM)
Keywords: RAP-VAC, negative pressure wound therapy, affordable VAC alternative, skin grafting preparation, Meirizal