Wound Vac

[cgsings]

I am pretty confused. My surgeon suggested I get a wound vac for a week- one week only. I would go under and he said something about applying a fistula plug.

He didn't say anything about a draining tube or a machine hook up. I had a surgery where my surgeon cut up 6 inches into my fatty tissue to "un-roof" and infection in my rear. I have a vaginal rectal fistula that is linked with it. There is no packing or anything. I have a seton keeping the fistula open. My surgeon said the wound vac would help that close the fistula..

I binged and googled wound vac stuff and still am super confused. Has anyone been in this sort of situation before?

 

[GutlessWonder86]

hi cg,

Yes, I've had a wound vacuum. What it does is suck out any infection from the wound and helps it heal faster. I had mine for a month and it closed up my abdominal wound (due to a nasty abscess that was infected big time) in a month's time.

A visiting RN should coming to your home daily or every 2 days to change the sponge (don't worry, it's not like a kitchen sponge..it's black filling..that's the only way to describe it) and check to see how the opening is healing. BUT your wound filling may be different or without anything.

The only thing I hated was I had to carry the darn thing around but I put it in a backpack if I had to go to my MD appts. You put it on the floor when you sleep and you have to recharge it in the electrical outlet after 8 hrs.

I don't recall it being noisy, just a pain sometimes. oh, the tubing...if you have a puppy, he will think it's a chew toy like my Bailey Grace did. Just give him a chewy or something to keep him occupied.

It does heal things faster and much better than a wet to dry packing that takes over 6 months to heal. I've done that too.

hope it helps you. happy easter. ~GW

 

[Jim (POPS)]

Yes, I had a wound Vac for about 3 weeks after a resection. It really helps clear everything up.

 

[cgsings]

My doc said there would be 3 layers of mesh or what not. I can change the outer layer but not the inner most layer. He didn't mention completely changing it out or having a nurse come to change it out. He also said he would put some sort of stuff in the wound that would stimulate growth. That is why I am so confused. No talk of machine or hose. He mentioned how there might be a slight odor as well. He used the word wound vac but I am not finding any information that sounds like what he is talking about.

 

[afidz]

A wound-vac is generally not a quick treartment plan, a week sounds a bit off to me. Your doctor should of explained everything to you before he did the surgery to attach it as it is a temporary life changing thing.
I have had a wound vac 3 times. Its great for non-healing wounds ( I think fistulas and abscesses as well, I never had them) The main purpose of the vac is to clear fluid and infection. There (if you haven't already seen it) is a sponge placed inside and then there is a tube attached to the sponge. The infection and fluid is sucked through the tube. The sucking is continuous. The constant sucking promotes healthy cell growth from the inside out.
If your not in the hospital then there should be some sort of in home health care provider coming about every other day to change out the sponge and tubing. when did you get the wound vac? has it been changed yet? I hope to hear from you soon, you can also pm me if you like.

 

[cgsings]

I don't have it yet. I had an out patient procedure where my surgeon dug out and "unroofed" the infection (about six inches up in my fatty tissue in my butt fat- sounds weird saying that, ha). That was about 3 weeks ago. He said everything looks good and it will heal fine on its own. He said because I have a recto-vaginal fistula that isn't going to heal on it's own we should do this wound vac procedure to expedite healing and help the fistula to heal. I don't have that much drainage from the wound (daily, I just put a little gauze to cover it between my cheeks and I am not bothered by it) and he says it isn't mandatory- he just highly recommends it. I feel completely in the dark.. maybe there is a different kind of wound vac category that is new or maybe he just used that term because there isn't a good name for it or a good way to explain his plan of action... I am going to call his office tomorrow and see if I can get more information. He said the decision to go through with this is completely up to me because I do not need to have it- he just highly recommends it because of my recto-vaginal fistula.

 

[afidz]

I would honestly go for it, it could really help you. Just make sure you understand everything about the wound-vac before it is placed. It is a machine that you have to carry around with you everywhere you go. SO just keep that in mind. It may be that you only need it for a week, it just seems strange to me because I had it atleast a month at a time. but, everyone is different