When you have a wound that is hard to close, your doctor may treat it with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC). VAC uses negative pressure (suction) to help bring the edges of your wound together. It also removes fluid and dead tissue from the wound area. And it can help tissue grow faster.

Vacuum-assisted closure (also called vacuum therapy, vacuum sealing or topical negative pressure therapy) is a simple technique where a piece of foam with an open-cell structure is inserted into the wound, and a wound drain with lateral perforations is laid atop it.