The nurse clarifies that a vacuum-assisted closure supports the healing of a wound by:

Choice A rationale
Abdominal pads are generally used for absorption and are not specifically designed to minimize pain during dressing changes.

Choice B rationale
Hydrogel dressings provide moisture to the wound, which can facilitate autolytic debridement and reduce pain during dressing changes. They are cooling and soothing, which can be comfortable for the patient.

Choice C rationale
Wet-to-dry dressings are used for mechanical debridement and can be painful when removed, as they may adhere to the wound bed and pull on new tissue.

Choice D rationale
Dry gauze can adhere to the wound and cause pain upon removal, similar to wet-to-dry dressings, and is not the best choice for minimizing pain.

Choice A rationale
Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy aids in wound healing primarily by applying negative pressure to draw the wound edges together. This not only helps reduce the size of the wound but also promotes blood flow to the area, which can accelerate healing.

Choice B rationale
While VAC therapy does support the underlying structures of the wound, its primary function is not to strengthen the wall of the wound. The negative pressure assists in removing excess fluid and reducing edema, which indirectly supports the wound structure.

Choice C rationale
VAC therapy does have an impact on bacterial levels within the wound by helping to remove infectious materials. However, its main purpose is not to interrupt bacteria proliferation; this is more directly achieved through antibiotic therapy and proper wound care techniques.

Choice D rationale
While VAC does create a cover over the wound, its main purpose is to apply negative pressure to the wound area. This negative pressure helps to draw the wound edges together, promotes the removal of exudate and potentially infectious material, and stimulates the growth of new tissue, which aids in the healing process12. The occlusive cover is part of the system that allows the negative pressure to be maintained, but it is the negative pressure itself, not the cover, that provides the therapeutic benefit.