(800) 503-5554

Wound Care

If you have a chronic wound, you know how hard it can be to deal with it. You may feel pain, discomfort, or have mobility issues. But don't lose hope! We can help manage your wound care needs so you can live your life on your terms.

sick-1

What is Wound Care

Wound therapy is a medical procedure that aims to help wounds heal faster and better. Wounds can be classified as acute or chronic, depending on how long they have been present and how well they respond to treatment. Acute wounds are those that heal within a few weeks, while chronic wounds are those that persist for more than three months or fail to progress through the normal stages of healing. Chronic wounds can be caused by various factors, such as diabetes, poor circulation, infection, pressure, trauma, or radiation. Chronic wounds can have a negative impact on the quality of life of patients, as they can cause pain, discomfort, odor, infection, and reduced mobility.

How Can MedCare Help?

For chronic wounds MedCare offers Negative Pressure Wound Therapy devices and supplies to treat your wounds in the comfort of your own home.
(Consult your health care provider to see if you quality)

How Can Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Help?

One of the methods that can be used to treat chronic wounds is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). This technique involves applying a vacuum, or suction, to a wound through a special dressing that is connected to a pump. The pump can be either mains-operated or battery-powered, depending on the mobility and exudate level of the patient. The dressing can be made of foam or gauze, and it is sealed with an adhesive transparent film. The vacuum creates a negative pressure environment in the wound, which has several benefits for wound healing, such as:

  • Removing excess fluid, bacteria, and debris from the wound bed
  • Increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the wound tissue
  • Reducing swelling and inflammation
  • Stimulating the formation of granulation tissue (new tissue that fills the wound)
  • Promoting wound contraction (shrinking of the wound edges)
  • Enhancing epithelialization (growth of new skin over the wound)

NPWT can be applied continuously or intermittently, depending on the type and condition of the wound. The dressing should be changed every 24 to 48 hours, or longer if the wound is not infected. The duration of NPWT treatment can vary from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the wound healing progress.

NPWT has been shown to be effective for treating various types of chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and surgical wounds. NPWT can also be used for burn wounds and traumatic wounds, but with caution and close monitoring. NPWT can improve the healing rate, reduce the wound size, decrease the infection rate, and improve the quality of life of patients with chronic wounds. However, NPWT is not suitable for all wounds and patients. Some contraindications for NPWT include:

  • Wounds with active bleeding or uncontrolled coagulopathy (blood clotting disorder)
  • Wounds with exposed blood vessels, organs, nerves, or bones
  • Wounds with necrotic (dead) tissue or malignancy (cancer)
  • Wounds with fistulas (abnormal connections) to body cavities or organs
  • Wounds infected with multidrug-resistant organisms
  • Patients with sensitivity or allergy to the dressing materials
  • Patients with cardiac pacemakers or implantable defibrillators

Some possible complications or adverse effects of NPWT include:

  • Bleeding
  • Pain
  • Infection
  • Skin irritation or maceration (softening)
  • Granulation tissue overgrowth
  • Pressure injury or ischemia (reduced blood flow) from the dressing or tubing