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==Background==
*Also known as a "wound vac" 
*A technique for treating acute and chronic wounds by using a sealed wound dressing attached to a vacuum pump.
* The vacuum creates a negative pressure gradient that draws out fluid and increases blood flow to the area. 
* Often applied to wounds that are expected to heal poorly, such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, or very large tissue defects.

===Efficacy===
* High quality evidence exists for improved outcomes in the treatment of [[diabetic foot ulcers]].
* Poor quality or insufficient evidence suggests may improve treatment of bedsores, large tissue defects, or other wounds.
* There is little evidence to suggest an increased risk of complications, so wound vacs are often applied to many other kinds of wounds.

==Contraindications==
* Malignancy in the wound
* Untreated osteomyelitis
* Non-enteric or unexplored fistulas
* Presence of an eschar
* Direct exposure of blood vessels, anastamoses, internal organs, or nerves. 

==Troubleshooting==
*Most ER visits regarding wound vacs will be due to "the machine beeping". This is often due to loss of negative pressure in the circuit. 
*This can usually be fixed by re-packing the wound and placing a new occlusive dressing over it. 
**May require special supplies not available in the ER. If that is the case, most patients can still be discharged if they have expedited follow up with a home health nurse or PCP that can provide supplies.

==References==
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[[Category:Surgery]]