Selecting the right wound vac pump to use is made much easier if a selection criteria is used. From a review of medical literature I came up with the following list, and from experience added the last three items on the list.

1. Wound size
2. Wound severity
3. Amount of wound exudate
4. Need for patient mobility
5. Presence of a wound care professional
6. Wound location
7. Multiple wound sites

When a wound vac manufacturer places a high premium on light weight and portability, this often means the wound vac is not capable of displacing much air, and necessarily has a small canister. While it may generate the same negative pressure as a larger unit, that is only true when there is an absolute seal. Depending upon the wound location, it is sometimes difficult to obtain a complete seal, especially when using gauze dressings. A larger pump which displaces larger amounts of air can overcome small leaks and maintain the prescribed negative pressure, especially when one pump is used for multiple dressings. The larger pumps are also generally a better fit in situations where there is a lot of exudate. The Medela and Pensar WoundPro pumps are good fits in this type of situation.

The smaller wound vacs can generate the same negative pressure levels as the larger pumps, so in situations where a good seal can be obtained, the benefits of a smaller, lighter pump will be appreciated when patient mobility is valued. The Kalypto and Devon extriCARE pumps are good fits in this type of situation.

In home care or nursing home situations where dressing changes may need to be done by somebody other than a wound care professional, ease of use of the wound vac pump and easy application of dressings becomes one of the most important of the criteria for selection of the wound vac pump. In this type of application, the Kalypto wound vac pump is well suited, provided there is not a lot of exudate. It runs on AAA batteries, fits in the palm of your hand, has a very small size tubing, and has dressing kits that apply like a bandaid. There is no canister involved, so applying, and changing dressings is very easy.

When uncertainty of application exists, it is often best to consider renting a wound vac pump, rather than making a purchase. This allows for a pump to be switched out until the best fit can be determined.