Does anyone have experience with V.A.C. packing?

[KWalker]

Hey guys, as I'm sure you've read I'm in the hospital with a pretty nasty abscess now. It's pretty massive so they want to consider a V.A.C. packing for it, although there are doubts because of the location and being so close to the rectum. V.A.C. stands for Vaccuum Assisted Cleaning, or something like that lol. From what I've read though, it's not a fun experience having it done, and is pretty painful when they turn on the suction, and is very annoying to have all the time.

Does anyone have experience with this that could help me out? They pretty much determined my home care nurses messed up the packing the first time by not using the silvercel properly so now we are using the long packing with a special gel that goes in as well..

What did you do to make your abscess heal? Any input is appreciated.

 

[tiloah]

I don't have any information about V.A.C. packing but I hope they get you a treatment that gets you out of the hospital and feeling better. I'll be thinking about you.

Unfortunately the only thing that worked to heal my abscess was surgical removal.

 

[KWalker]

Thanks. I've had surgery for my abscess. Twice now lol. This last one was a a pretty hefty one and will take a long time to heal. Now I just have to make sure it doesn't heal back over by maintaining it.

Thanks for the thoughts

 

[Denise]

Hi KWalker,

The only experience I have with wound VAC is from working with them as a nurse, so what I will tell you is what the patients tell me about it.

- yes it does hurt when the suction is initially turned on but the patients have told me that does settle within a few minutes.
- The packing only needs to be changed every 3 days (well that was what we did in the plastics unit I worked on at the time) so that is nice.
- The machine is bulky and usually the patients wheeled it around on a walker with a basket in the front to put the machine in (they didn't actually need the walker for mobility).
- the tubing attaching the dressing to the machine is big (probably about 3cm, so just over an inch in diameter)
- I have seen VAC dressing in the location you have and it did work well.
- wounds do tend to heal much faster with the VAC then standard saline soak dressings as you encouraging the wound to heal by "sucking" blood flow to the wound base. More blood flow means better healing.
- probably the biggest problem you will have with a wound near the rectum is that the dressing you put on the VAC sponge (looks like the clear dressings you put on IV sites) can tend to leak in area with a lot of movement, which would mean more dressing changes or you trying to fix the leaks.
- next big problem would be the tubing itself as you will be sitting on it and can tend to dig into your leg, so try and fix it in a place where it will hang between your legs like an urinary catheter.

I hope this helps, sorry if it doesn't. Good luck.

 

[KWalker]

Wow thanks a lot for that! I did hear them say it would only be every 3 days, however I did not hear the machine was that big. I was told I can put it in my pocket like a wallet. I did hear it was really annoying though, and the tubing can be a pain. The reason they said it won't work on my abscess is because its literally right at the rectum. We tried putting tegaderm over the packing before and I couldn't go to the bathroom because of the tegaderm covering the hole...and that was really fun to take off. NOT!

So..so far the only good thing about this VAC is that its every 3 days, and faster healing. The packing I'm using now is like a saline thing they pack in (about 1.5ft in length) covered in a special jelly so if that works, I think I'm just going to stick with that. I think ultimately its my decision. I'm just not using that silvercel again, they said that's the reason it came back.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[KWalker]

Thank you so much for that! You just made up my mind and I'm not doing it. I'll stick to my packing I have now. If it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer. I heard originally that you don't even feel it, then as I got talking to more nurses they said its a terrible thing to have to go through. I couldn't even imagine having it on my butt!

I hope yours is feeling better now, and thanks again for your pic and help. This is the first thread I've seen about this VAC crap so hopefully others can use this as well.

 

[littlemissh]

I had a vac pack on for my leg when it required several debridements due to infection...thanks aza!
It was amazing and my scar looks like it has been sewn up even though it healed with the vac. Dressing changes were initially painful but as it got smaller they were fine.

I went home with it. The main issue I had with it was when the seal around the dressing wasn't good enough and the pressure dropped...and it kept alarming every 10-15 mins all over one weekend...worse than having a baby! I think that may be your main issue where it is located...you have to have a total seal to get the pressure up.
Overall initially a bit freaky but a good experience. Hope yours is going ok...ask for some pain relief pre dressing if it hurts.

The machine I had in hospital was one that wheeled around but I soon got a portable one which could be worn on a belt.

I have tried to attach a photo of it when it was at its smallest which shows the machine...but I'm rubbish and it won't upload!

 

[KWalker]

Thanks for the reply. I finally got released from the hospital today and went to get looked at by the home health care center and they turned down the VAC pack because of location. They said theres no possible way of it forming a seal because of where it would have to go.

Thank the lord! and everyone who helped and replied