Wound VAC placement

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For those of you who do wound care, especially wound VACs, you need to watch my instructional video on proper placement.

Eighteen months ago, I had both hips replaced. On the second replacement, I was severely burned by the cautery on my left upper thigh.

Eventually, I would need a wound VAC. That lasted about one week before it had to be removed. But while I had it on and was receiving wound care with HH nurses, both LVN and RN, I had to redo the placement because the RN did not place it correctlly.

Two drapes are always used: First, skin prep is used to help with irritation to the skin from the adhesive on the drapes. That is placed after the wound and surrounding skin is cleansed per orders. The first drape is placed in pieces or by making a hole the size of the wound cut out (my way) and then placed on the skin. The edges cannot tough the good skin, so that is the tricky part. After the first drape is placed, the sponge is cut to size, not touching the good skin once placed into the wound. Second, the top drap is placed, first on top of the sponge and pressed down to expel any air, and the layer is removed so the sticky side can adher to the foundation drape first. The top layer drape is smoothed out completely to take any excess air out of the layers. Once that top drape is flat, a small hole is snipped off the top layer and the suction cup placed according to the angle the patient needs it going. Turn on the machine. If there is good suction, it will be obvious immediately. If any sound, there is a leak somewhere. You never place just one drape. It requires a foundation drape and the top drape. I will try to do a live demo at the wound center in the near future.