Objective. To optimize vacuum therapy in surgical treatment of thermal burns.

Material and methods. We analyzed postoperative outcomes in 73 patients aged 18—65 years with deep burns. All patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 — surgical treatment with vacuum therapy, group 2 — no vacuum bandage.

Results. New methods of surgical treatment of deep burns using vacuum dressings have been developed. We objectively justified the use of vacuum therapy for the treatment of deep burns.

Conclusion. Vacuum dressings significantly improved the quality of care including less number of repeated autologous skin grafting procedures and hospital-stay.

Keywords. burns, autologous skin grafting, vacuum therapy