Wound vac after csection

amymichelleh13

So my doc talked to me today about a csection. Has anyone had a wound vac on their incision afterward? He said I would have to wear it for a week after surgery.

I am familiar with wound vacs since we use them in the orthopedic clinic I work in, but never heard of a wound vac for cesarean. Anyone had one after a csection?

shani0112

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

valstulas

I've only seen this once. It was on a mom who was a heavy smoker whose wound dehisced. This is definitely not standard practice.

ksmel2

Never heard of it either! Especially for a clean incision. You cannot apply a wound vac to healthy intact skin, so where would he put it unless he doesn't close your incision? I'd recheck with him what he means...

queenbone

shani0112:

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

This (except my 3rd is in 3 wks.) I've never heard of a wound vac. 

JTA2426

Never heard of a wound vac for a healthy, sutured incision. The only ones I have seen were on dehisced incisions, and those were pretty extreme. We are talking infected and stinking wounds on very very overweight moms. I wonder what he was talking about?

amymichelleh13

JTA2426:

Never heard of a wound vac for a healthy, sutured incision. The only ones I have seen were on dehisced incisions, and those were pretty extreme. We are talking infected and stinking wounds on very very overweight moms. I wonder what he was talking about?

Exactly! I mean we use these at work but they are on nasty infected dehisced wounds! I thought it was bizarre that he said I'd have one as a precaution, due to skin fold and potential for bacteria to grow there. I am overweight, but not a smoker and have no other problems healing properly.So weird. Plus I have had arthroscopic surgery on my ovaries with incisions right above my pubic bone/bikini line and had no probs healing after that. I'm going to talk to him about it again next week.

amymichelleh13

shani0112:

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

It's a negative pressure dressing that is hooked to a little machine that sucks the excess fluid and drainage from the wound.

shani0112

amymichelleh13:

shani0112:

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

It's a negative pressure dressing that is hooked to a little machine that sucks the excess fluid and drainage from the wound.

This sounds like not a good time.

valstulas

shani0112:

amymichelleh13:

shani0112:

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

It's a negative pressure dressing that is hooked to a little machine that sucks the excess fluid and drainage from the wound.

This sounds like not a good time.

They are rather unpleasant and completely unnecessary for a simple sterile surgical incision.

merc5411

JTA2426:

Never heard of a wound vac for a healthy, sutured incision. The only ones I have seen were on dehisced incisions, and those were pretty extreme. We are talking infected and stinking wounds on very very overweight moms. I wonder what he was talking about?

 

I agree!  This sounds weird.  I'd ask him to clarify what he's meaning and why you would need it.  I would definitely not be okay with that.

queenbone

shani0112:

amymichelleh13:

shani0112:

I've had 2 c sections and will be having my 3rd next week. Wtf is a wound vac?

It's a negative pressure dressing that is hooked to a little machine that sucks the excess fluid and drainage from the wound.

This sounds like not a good time.

Oh my, I really hope you can avoid that!

amymichelleh13

merc5411:

JTA2426:

Never heard of a wound vac for a healthy, sutured incision. The only ones I have seen were on dehisced incisions, and those were pretty extreme. We are talking infected and stinking wounds on very very overweight moms. I wonder what he was talking about?

 

I agree!  This sounds weird.  I'd ask him to clarify what he's meaning and why you would need it.  I would definitely not be okay with that.

Thanks ladies! I am going to talk with him more about it next week, and have him clarify exactly why he would use one as a precaution on me. Thanks again for your responses!

kmc217

Is there any reason to think he will not be able to staple or glue your incision and have to leave it open to heal? If there is a contraindication to closing you up, I can see the wound vac being used because it increases rate of healing by at least 50% (versus daily packing or other wound care) but honestly I have been a nurse for 12 years and have never heard of a simple/straightforward c-section being left open. So unless you have a ton of adhesions or some other reason not to close you up, this makes no sense. You cannot put a vac on a closed incision. I would definitely clarify with your OB. 

amymichelleh13

kmc217:

Is there any reason to think he will not be able to staple or glue your incision and have to leave it open to heal? If there is a contraindication to closing you up, I can see the wound vac being used because it increases rate of healing by at least 50 versus daily packing or other wound care but honestly I have been a nurse for 12 years and have never heard of a simple/straightforward csection being left open. So unless you have a ton of adhesions or some other reason not to close you up, this makes no sense. You cannot put a vac on a closed incision. I would definitely clarify with your OB.nbsp;

Doc said he only does disolvable sutures, and does not glue because he wants the incision to seep. Thought it was strange, but I work in Ortho, so it's a little different, but a clean wound is a clean wound... And I have plenty of wound care experience. I am still baffled.