Wound VAC / negative pressure therapy

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Negative pressure supports wound healing by removing fluid and drawing edges together.
• Sealed foam dressing with suction promotes granulation and drainage control.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Maintain airtight seal and ordered suction setting.
• Assess drainage amount, bleeding, pain, and surrounding skin.
• Do not leave foam in place without suction beyond policy limits.

Complications

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Skin breakdown
• Retained foam

NCLEX cues

• Alarm often means leak or full canister.
• Seal integrity matters.

Memory hooks

• VAC needs suction and seal.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

• Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.