Wound vac after csection

amymichelleh13 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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

valstulas · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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 · June 2013

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.

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