The nurse on the unit is going to perform wound care for her patient.
After removing the soiled dressing, the following wound is noted to have full-thickness skin and tissue loss with exposed palpable fascia.

Choice A rationale:

Strengthening the wall of the wound is not the primary function of vacuum-assisted closure. The main function is to promote wound healing by applying negative pressure.

Choice B rationale:

Drawing the wound edges together by negative pressure is the correct answer. Vacuum-assisted closure, also known as negative pressure wound therapy, works by applying negative pressure to the wound, which helps to draw the edges of the wound together and promote healing.

Choice C rationale:

Making an air occlusive cover for the wound is not the primary function of vacuum-assisted closure. The main function is to promote wound healing by applying negative pressure.

Choice D rationale:

Interrupting the proliferation of bacteria in the wound is not the primary function of vacuum-assisted closure. The main function is to promote wound healing by applying negative pressure.

Choice A rationale:

Increased pallor of the surgical site is not a typical sign of wound dehiscence. It could indicate poor blood flow to the area, but it’s not directly related to dehiscence.

Choice B rationale:

Increased serosanguineous drainage from the wound is a common sign of wound dehiscence. This type of drainage is a mixture of blood and serum, and an increase could indicate that the wound edges are separating.

Choice C rationale:

Excessive gas is not a typical sign of wound dehiscence. It could be related to other postoperative complications, such as ileus or bowel obstruction, but not specifically to dehiscence.

Choice D rationale:

Complaint of constipation is not a typical sign of wound dehiscence. It could be related to other postoperative complications, such as side effects of pain medication or decreased mobility, but not specifically to dehiscence.