Day 17 ~ Room 401, 3pm

Wound-Vac dressing change:

   Today was change #4 of the vacuum sponge in Bob's abdominal wound. It is managed by a wound care specialist who removes and replaces the vacuum dressing every Mon, Wed & Fri of each week. They anticipate it may take anywhere from 4-12 weeks for the defect to completely grow closed. Bob arranged pain medicine in advance with his nurse, but he said even with 4cc Morphine and 15mg Norco, the procedure was still terribly painful. Hoping that once the nerve endings begin to heal and granulation tissue continues to fill the wound, the pain during these vacuum sponge changes will decrease.

Wound Measurements: 

   *Dressing change #1 (11/29, Wed): 21cm/8.5" long x 7.9cm/3" wide x 4cm/1.5" deep 
   *Dressing change #2 (12/1, Fri): 20.5cm long x 7.6cm wide x 3.8cm deep

   *Dressing change #3 (12/4, Mon): 20.5cm long x 7.4cm wide x 2cm deep

    Now that Bob's wound care isn't being managed in the ICU, even though the dressing is changed on M/W/F, they will only be measuring the wound's actual size every Monday. But just looking at it visually today, it is apparent that the depth is decreasing as his body fills in from the inside out.

The sponge before it is measured to fit inside the wound.

The unused sponge pieces left over after the wound has been packed.

The pump that is connected to the wound sponge and creates

negative pressure which continuously pulls fluids out of the wound site.

   If anyone would like to see pictures of the actual wound, I do have them, and will share via private message with those who are interested. I find the healing functions of the human body to be fascinating, but I know not everyone shares in my fascination. It is pretty amazing that we can live with parts of us not yet closed up!