Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) via the VAC (Vacuum Assisted Closure, KCI, Inc., San Antonio, Texas) is being used for the treatment of a variety of wound types throughout the healthcare continuum. The use of this device has become common place in many institutions, and the procedure for use is well defined by the manufacturer and clarified for a specific patient and wound by individualized physician orders. As is true for all wound care treatments, there is a learning curve in which practitioners learn, practice, and master the skill of application. This edition of the Wound Care Department provides readers with a troubleshooting guide that can be used as a reference guide in any healthcare setting to enhance the use of the VAC by simplifying the process of troubleshooting variances that may occur during its use.
Figure 1 is used at The Nebraska Medical Center as a reference for staff nurses that are caring for patients who are receiving VAC therapy. The document is placed on the patient chart and provides an easily accessible resource for alarm troubleshooting, canister changes, etc. Readers are encouraged to use this document as a template and personalize the "Trouble Shooting Guide" for their individual needs. The Trouble Shooting Guide has been prepared using information provided by the manufacturer of the VAC (KCI, Inc., San Antonio, Texas) and the experience of the Wound Ostomy Staff at The Nebraska Medical Center.
Section Description
This department is dedicated to information pertaining to wound care. The care of wounds is an important component of the overall care of a patient, regardless of the type of surgical practice. The Wound Care Department Editor, Susan Mendez-Eastman, welcomes comments and suggestions concerning specific topics, patient situations, and wound care in general. Susan can be contacted at [email protected].