Strong Regional Burn Center
Burn Definitions and Procedures
Vacuum Assisted Closure Techniques (VAC)
In 2000, Dr. Christopher Lentz, Director of the Strong Regional Burn Center, along with his Physician Assistant Dixie Reid, applied the first vacuum assisted closure technique.
"Before this technique, a person recovering from a skin graft wouldn't be able to move the wound area because they'd be inhibited by bulky, uncomfortable splints." Dr. Lentz explains.
How VAC Works
Dr. Lentz:
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Places a sponge over the wound
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Inserts a drainage tube
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Then applies vacuum pressure to a cellophane covering to close the wound