What is a Prevena Dressing and Pump?
A Prevena Dressing is a special suction dressing that helps your wound heal by encouraging the edges to close together. It stays on for up to 2 weeks after your surgery and does not need to be changed. This dressing helps lower your risk of infection, reduces fluid buildup, and prevents your surgical wound from reopening.
It uses V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) technology, which is the suction action that helps the wound heal. This is also known as Negative Pressure Therapy.
This is your dressing, it is called a “Prevena”
This diagram demonstrates how the suction (“negative pressure”) pulls the surgical wound closed
The pump is a device that helps remove fluid from your wound by pulling it into a clear canister connected to the dressing. It's important to make sure your pump is always working. You’ll know it’s working when the dressing is tightly "vacuumed down" and the screen or lights on the pump are on. Never turn off the pump and always check that the battery is charged in case of a power outage. See below to find out which pump you have and how to maintain it.
Do the following:
- DO keep the dressing and pump clean and dry – so avoid taking a shower. Even steam can encourage the edges of the dressing to lift
- DO keep the pump charging overnight and whenever you’re sat down to keep it fully charged
- Contact help (see phone numbers overleaf) if you have any concerns. However, if you notice that your canister has suddenly filled with a large amount of fresh bright red blood and you believe the wound is bleeding rapidly and heavily, please call 999 for an ambulance.
Don’t do the following:
- DON’T let the edges of the dressing peel. If they peel back the dressing won’t work!
- DON’T turn the pump off or let the battery run out
What happens when the dressing is ready for removal:
The hospital nurse will arrange for a district nurse to visit you at home. They will remove the Prevena Dressing and Pump, as well as any clips or stitches, if necessary.
Please see the following advice regarding the different types of pumps you may have:
- If you have this type of pump, it is called an Activac:
Continuous VAC therapy (no limit of days)
It should have come with a charger cable – always take your cable with you if you attend hospital or leave the house. It also comes with a large black hard carry case. Keep this with your cable.
After the district nurse removes the Prevena dressing and pump, keep hold of the pump, charger cable, and the large black plastic box. Then, call the George Eliot Hospital Tissue Viability Nurses (TVNs) on 02476 153609. Leave a message with your name and the date the dressing was removed.
The TVNs will then arrange for the company to collect the pump and its accessories from your home in the next few days. The company will call you prior to collection to arrange a date/time. However, if they haven’t collected it in 1 week please call again and we will chase it for you.
- Alternatively, if you have one of these pump types, they are referred to as Disposable Pumps:
|
7 Day Rectangular Pump
Continuous VAC therapy for up to 7 days. It will then turn itself off and cannot be restarted.
It uses three AA batteries and cannot be recharged. |
14 Day Teardrop Pump
Continuous VAC therapy for up to 14 days. It will then turn itself off and cannot be restarted.
It comes with a charger cable and once fully charged the battery can last up to 9 hours. Take your cable with you if you attend hospital or leave the house |
After the District Nurse removes the Prevena dressing, and takes the canister off the pump, you will need to either dispose of the device (and cable) into the electrical waste at your local recycling centre or bring it back to the hospital ward you were staying, and the nurses will recycle on your behalf via our EBME department.
If you have any concerns or problems
If you have any concerns, please call:
- During working hours only Monday to Friday: The George Eliot Hospital Tissue Viability Nurses: 02476 153609
- Outside of normal working hours: The company (Solventum) that provides the pumps: 0800 980 8880
*This number is also on the silver sticker on the front of the pump - Alternatively attend George Eliot Hospital Accident and Emergency department. Please take this leaflet with you.
George Eliot Hospital is a smoke free environment. For help and advice to stop smoking you can call the national helpline on 0300 123 1044 or visit https://
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