Two kinds of problems, two kinds of calls

Most wound VAC problems fall into one of two groups. The first is trouble with the equipment: an alarm, a leak, a full canister, a low battery or a pump that stops. The second is a change in the wound or in how you feel: bleeding, different drainage, more pain or fever.

Equipment questions often go to the device support line or the nurse who manages the dressing. Changes in the wound or your health go to the treating clinician. When you are not sure, call the treating team and describe what you see.

The guide to what negative pressure wound therapy is explains how the pump, tubing, canister and sealed dressing work together.

Keep contacts and instructions within reach

Set this up on the first day. Keep the following together, near the device:

  • The treating clinician’s phone number, including the number for nights and weekends
  • The home health agency or nurse who changes the dressing, if you have one
  • The device company’s support line and your device or account number
  • The printed instructions for your specific device
  • Your written care plan
  • The charger, and a spare canister if you were given one

Add these numbers to your wound care contact list. Ask one question in advance: “How long can the device be off before I need to call, and what should I do then?” The answer is part of your individual plan.

Device problems to report

Devices differ, so your printed instructions and the support line are the authority on what each alarm means. In general, report:

  • A leak or seal alarm that returns after you have followed the device instructions
  • A dressing that has lifted, loosened or no longer looks drawn down
  • A blockage alarm, or tubing that stays kinked
  • A canister that is full or filling faster than you were told to expect
  • A battery that will not hold a charge
  • A pump that stops, will not turn on or makes an unfamiliar sound
  • A device that has been dropped, damaged or gotten wet

Do not change the pressure settings, and do not remove or rebuild the dressing unless you have been taught to and told that you may. The treating clinician chooses the settings for your wound.

If canisters or dressing kits are running short, call before you run out. Gateway helps with wound supplies and equipment coordination for the care it arranges.

Wound and body changes to report

Contact the treating clinician promptly about:

  • Bright red blood in the tubing or canister (call right away, or 911 if you cannot reach anyone)
  • A sudden increase in the amount of drainage
  • Drainage that turns cloudy, thick or foul-smelling
  • Redness, warmth or swelling spreading from the edges of the dressing
  • Pain that is increasing, or new pain when the pump is running
  • Fever or chills
  • Blisters, rash or raw skin under the clear film

Our guide to what wound drainage means describes the colors and amounts clinicians ask about. Several of these changes are also common signs of wound infection.

When to call 911

Call 911 for severe or uncontrolled bleeding, such as a canister filling quickly with bright red blood or blood soaking around the dressing. While you wait, follow the emergency instructions in your care plan.

Call 911 as well for trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or new confusion. Gateway is not an emergency service.

What to say when you call

Have these ready:

  1. Your name, and that you have a wound VAC at home
  2. What the screen shows, in the exact words or symbols
  3. When the problem started and what you have already tried
  4. Whether the pump is running right now
  5. Any change in the wound, the drainage or how you feel

Write down who you spoke with and what they told you to do.

Planning for nights, outages and outings

Charge the device on a routine, such as at meals and at bedtime, and know how long the battery lasts. Storms in Greater St. Louis and the Metro East sometimes cut power for hours, so ask the treating team what to do in a long outage.

When you leave the house, take the charger and your contact numbers. Before a longer trip, read our guide to traveling with a wound and talk with the treating team.

Gateway coordinates wound VAC follow-up at home with partner clinicians, including visit scheduling, supplies and communication with the ordering clinician. To ask about care, call 314-325-0126 or send a request for care.

Common questions

Who do I call first, the device company or my clinician?

For a question about the machine itself, such as an alarm code or a damaged part, the device support line is usually fastest. For anything about the wound, drainage, bleeding, pain or fever, call the treating clinician. If therapy has stopped and you cannot restart it, tell the treating team too.

What does it mean if the foam no longer looks shrunken down?

When suction is working, the dressing usually looks collapsed and firm, with a wrinkled surface. A dressing that looks puffy or feels soft often means the seal has been lost. Follow the device instructions for a leak. If the dressing does not draw down again, call the nurse or clinician who manages it.

What should I do with my wound VAC if the power goes out?

The pump runs on its battery when unplugged, so therapy normally continues for a while. Note the time and the battery level. If the outage looks likely to outlast the battery, call the treating team before the device shuts down.

Can I turn the wound VAC off at night if the alarm keeps sounding?

Do not switch it off and leave it without instructions from the treating team. The dressing is designed to work with suction running, and an alarm means something needs attention. Call the after-hours number in your care plan and describe the alarm.

Related pages

General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Updated October 2026