This article aims to provide an overview of the technique for applying vacuum-assisted closure therapy (V.A.C. therapy), using the example of one of the most basic dressing types: V.A.C. GranuFoam, a black polyurethane foam. Practitioners should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for application of other dressing types.
V.A.C. therapy is used to apply negative pressure to the wound bed to promote wound healing.
V.A.C therapy promotes perfusion, reduces oedema, draws the wound edges together and stimulates the formation of granulation tissue.
The correct technique for applying V.A.C. therapy is essential to ensure patient safety and optimum wound healing outcomes.
Clinical skills articles can help update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:
How you think this article will change your practice.
How the use of V.A.C. therapy might affect the patient’s experience.
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Nursing Standard. 30, 27, 36-39. doi: 10.7748/ns.30.27.36.s44
Correspondence Peer reviewAll articles are subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software.
Received: 06 August 2014
Accepted: 15 December 2014
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