Wound vac

I have used the VAC System over the last 10 years when KCI first came out with them. The key to optimal therapy is establishing a clean wound base. This means first getting rid of the necrotic tissue, usually thru surgical or enzymatic(i.e. collagenase) debridement methods. Assuming that the dressing remains intact with no notable leaks, changing them is usually done in 2 to 3 day intervals. Frequent changing is not recommended unless there is gross contamination suspected, since granulation tissue may also adhere to the removed dressing and/or wound packing material. I have had wonderful results with the VAC system where I have seen a lot of Stage IV decubiti heal dramatically over a span of a few weeks.. I am confident that it will work for you also. I wish you a speedy recovery.

I just got DC'd from mine. I had a post hysterectomy hematoma that had to be surgically evacuated it left a wound 8.5cmDx5cmLx I think 2.0cmW. I was only on the wound vac 19 days and it is now 1.2cm deep and closing nicely though I am left with an extra belly button. I swear by the wound vac my doc said without it that wound would have taken 3 to 5 mos to heal. Of course I am still off work another 2 weeks and then will be on light duty for 4 to 6 more when I return. Still I cannot express how much I love the wound vac though it was a bit of a nuisance being attached to that thing it is however portable. Best of luck with yours.

My dressing was changed again, but there was no notable difference in the depth. I had a typo on the width, that should have been 0.3 cm instead of 0.6 cm. My home health nurse was really surprised that the doctor put me on a wound vac since my wound was that small. Luckily, I haven't had much pain out of it. I go back to the doctor in just 4.5 hours to get an update. Have y'all seen the wound get much smaller in depth than 1.2 cm before the doctor took the patient off?

I went to the doctor today and they took the wound vac off. They're going to get home health to pack it as needed until either I feel that I can go back to work/school or until it completely heals up (hopefully before jan. 10). He said that the original depth of the wound was 3 cm. As of yesterday, it was 1.2 cm! That's 60% of the entire wound in exactly one week's time! I know it won't, but I wish the rest of it would heal up that quick.

I am glad to know you are progressing well. I am confident that things will look great by the 10th of Jan. One more thing...granulation tissue thrives better in moist, not wet(they will macerate easily and slough off if too wet) environment. Trust in the moist to dry dressings...And don't forget your dietary proteins!! ;)

I don't know too much about the wound vac. I have a question though; has anyone ever heard of a sponge from a wound vac being accidentally left in a patient's wound? Is this possible without it being seen?

Thanks!

Hi there!!! i've been doing wound vac for more than 3 years now but i've never heard a sponge being left in the wound. But i think it's possible, specially if the wound is deep and color is black. (Well same color as the sponge), and if the Nurse is very tired and sleepy, he! he!:uhoh3:

I don't know too much about the wound vac. I have a question though; has anyone ever heard of a sponge from a wound vac being accidentally left in a patient's wound? Is this possible without it being seen?

Thanks!

For those deep wounds we use white sponges just so they don't get lost.

I don't know too much about the wound vac. I have a question though; has anyone ever heard of a sponge from a wound vac being accidentally left in a patient's wound? Is this possible without it being seen?

Thanks!

I have never seen it happen, but have heard of the foam, especially in sinus tracts, being covered by tissue, or just not getting pulled out. I understand in some cases it requires surgical removal.

I have a very large wound from removal of a hematoma after hysterectomy. When I had the staples removed in the office, she cut a very large incision (almost the same size as the surgerical incision and referred me to the wound center for treatment. I have had the wound vac since Friday and go for the first change today. I am glad to find this site. Gives me hope. Does the discomfort get better as it heals more? Is a hematoma a common complication of hysterectomy? I was quite surprised to end up this way.