Quick Overview
Categories
Scope of Practice (ScOP) Designation
Aim of Dressing
Tips & Tricks
1) Using a stomal ring reduces the chances of leaks and skin maceration 2) Avoid the groin skin fold if possible as this will lead to a leak (as seen in the video) 3) When attaching the trac pad make sure the orientation will minimise pressure injuries
Dressing Changes (Min - Max)
2nd Daily (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Shopping List
Vac Dressing Foam – White Foam
Vac Dressing Foam – Black – Small
V.A.C.® Ulta
Vac Ulta Canister
Product Selection Disclaimer:
The wound care products being currently used are a suggestion ONLY. They do not take into account your patient's individual needs which you must assess. No funding from medical companies has been provided and wound care products are chosen on their merit and what is available on the NSW Health State Wound Care Contract. Where an exact brand name product is not available we suggest you review the alternative tab or use another wound care product from its category eg. Hydrofibre
Video Tutorial
Tutorial Steps
Swipe
Clean the wound bed and peri-wound area. You must dry the peri-wound area very well.
Apply Friars Balsam (up to 2 coats) allowing each coat to dry before adding more.
Have the medical team probe the wound for you so you know how deep you need to put the foam. I knew that i needed to go 4.5cm down. Using the BACK of the forceps lift up the muscle and push the white foam in.
Apply the stoma ring as close to the wound edge as possible.
Place a small piece of black foam onto of the white foam and inside the stoma ring. Don’t try and use white foam as it is impregnated with normal saline and will ultilse the stoma rings absorption capacity rather then the exudate.
Create a mushroom part #1. Cut a whole in the first drape that is covering the small piece of black foam.
Create a mushroom part #2. Place a large piece of black foam on top of the whole you cut in step 6 and place a drape over it. The foam needs to be the size of, if not slightly bigger than, the Trac Pad. If it is not then the sensors can show that the dressing is blocked.
Turn the vac on.
When/if there is a leak in the groin fold. Avoid just adding more drape as the leak will reopen when the patient mobilised. Instead. Cut the drape that is bunching the groin fold together.
Spread the groin fold so that it is flat and then place some vac drape over the area.
General Notes
What have we learnt:
1.Using the BACK of a forceps will aid in lifting muscle groups to allow the insertion of the vac foam (ONLY WHITE FOAM)
2.Only use white foam for packing where you can not see the end of the track
3.If the opening of the wound is small you will need to use the ‘mushroom’ technique so that the sensor pad has adequate foam adhesion. If this isn’t the case you run the risk of the sensors not working and the vac machine alarming
4.The groin crease is an area where leaks can easily occur. Cur the drape that is forming a ‘bridge’ of the skin fold and then spread the skin apart and put a piece of plastic drape over the areas whilst holding the skin taught.