Overview
Reviewed by Joe Maloney, M.D.
A V.A.C. is a system used to promote healing in wounds. Pressurized oxygen is used to close an open wound and remove infectious materials. A foam dressing is applied to the wound in order to make this happen.
Detailed Description
Wound V.A.C. is an advanced method of cleaning and closing an open wound. The foam dressing is applied to the wound and a tube is embedded into the foam. On the other end of the tube is a canister attached to a vacuum unit. The vacuum unit sends negative pressure into the wound, pulling out bacteria and fluids into the canister and ultimately closing the wound. V.A.C. dressings can be changed as frequently as every 24 hours or as infrequently as every three weeks in a clean wound.
V.A.C. therapy may be used for the following conditions:
Chronic open wounds (diabetic and pressure ulcers)
Acute and traumatic wounds
Meshed grafts
Subacute wounds (i.e. dehisced incisions)
Flaps
Neuropathic ulcers
Venous or arterial insufficiency ulcers
Dehisced wounds or wounds with exposed orthopedic hardware or bone
Poststernotomy mediastinitisV.A.C. therapy is not recommended for:
Fistulas other than enteric or blind fistulas
Necrotic tissue with eschar present
Osteomyelities (untreated)
Malignancy in the wound
Do not place V.A.C. dressing over exposed blood vessels or organs
Last updated: 08-Feb-07
