just venting about wound vac

[Anggelica]

I was searching how much was a wound vac just for personal knowledge, I found out that wound vacs are only rented. I wish we can buy them because there have been a few cases in my work where people could have used it but cant because they do not have insurance and KCI would not release them if they do not have insurance.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

This is interesting. Maybe your facility could look into the disposable wound vacs? I am not sure what company makes them, but we began using them about 6 months ago on our CABG patients. They are small enough to fit in the tele box pocket on the patient gown. They are very simple to use. It is either on or off, and it lasts for about 7 days. We send our CABG patients home with them sometimes. I have no idea what the price for one is though.

[AMN74]

Other companies make negative pressure wound therapy devices. I know Smith-Nephew has a negative pressure wound device. KCI has the original "wound vac", but there are several companies that now make negative pressure wound therapy devices and wound kits with foam/and,or/gauze. Just do a google search for negative pressure wound therapy devices as opposed to wound vac and you may find some help.