Anyone know anything about wound vacs?

Hi All,

I have a pretty large opening/wound on my back.  My wound guy is thinking of having me use a wound vac.

Has anyone here had any experience with a wound vac?  What was it like?  Would you do it again, or just go the slower way of the moist-to-dry gauze?

Thanks!
Julie

Can't help Julie... I just have a couple of little openings that are taking forever to heal.  I picked up some raw honey the other night and will try that on the one on my breast.  The two on my thighs are doing really good.

Hi Julie

The wound vac will help it heal faster by increasing blood flow to the site.  It also contains the wound so it is less likely to become infected.  But you have to lug the machine around with you and that can be a draw back.  If you have an active job that would be difficult.

On the other hand the moist to dry would be more convenient.  But as you say would take much longer to heal.  you may also have more scaring with the slow way.

It would depend on your lifestyle and what you can afford.

Good luck with what you decide.

Hi Julie,

I've worn a wound vac for over 3 weeks now and still have have few more weeks with it. I had a large panni removed on January 5th and two weeks later had two large areas open up around my hip areas. While my surgeon was cleaning them up, he said I would have to go back into surgery the next day to have them debrided and have a wound vac attached to get them healing from the inside. I left the hospital with a portable unit from KCI and a home health nurse comes by 3 times a week to change the dressings. Changing the dressings is something only a professional can do correctly and all the nurses have been shocked how well my wounds have been healing the last 3 weeks. The vac promotes healing from the inside and forms granulation tissue while preventing infection. Both wounds were deep: one of them was almost 20 cm deep and now it's about 6 cm deep. So it works really well.

I was told to up my protein and Vitamin C to help things along and I'm sure it's helped too. But I'd rather have my vac with all the tubing and it's sometimes cranky behavior healing the wounds superquick versus packing the wounds myself 3 times a day with much slower healing. The portable unit is about 2 or 3 pounds and I wear it in a little carrying case around my shoulder. I can go to work and do most activities. I'll be glad when it's gone so I can be more free, but it's an amazing litle device. Good luck in your treatment!

Chris

Hi Chris,

Wow!  20 cm deep?!!!!  That is enormous!  And now it's only 6 cm deep?  In three weeks?  That is truly amazing!

Gosh, I feel like a total wimp now.  The one on my back is only about 3 cm deep, I think, about 3 cm across and about 8 cm wide.   It feels huge to me.

20 cm?!  Isn't that around 8" deep?  Wowza.

I'm so glad to hear of your experience with the wound vac.  I'm hoping I can get one this week (the ActiVac which it sounds like you have). 

Thank you for sharing your experience.  BTW -- you look hot. 

The vacs I have seen are special Sponge material.  Cut to shape the wound.  The sponge is fitted inside the wound and has a tube inserted in the tube.

When the suction is applied the sponge compresses.

The wound fluids get sucked out but also circulation is improved as well. 

The wound vac is a good thing for many wounds

Loretta

P.S. I am having stuff done with Agha in April, having wound issues is my biggest fear but not enough to not go through with it.

I am sorry you are going through this ((hugs))

Not from plastics but from an incision wound I wore a wound vac for 2 months- a pain to deal with
but it was better than the alternative, and for the most part I could shower with it on, just having to drag a "purse" with you everywhere was a little annoying.

Hope you were able to get one and it helped you. 

Did wonders for me!