Evaluation of negative pressure wound therapy to closed laparotomy incisions in acute care surgery

Abstract

Background: Surgical site complications in the form of wound infections are a major burden to the healthcare system. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as delivered by a surgical incision management system (SIMS) is a novel approach to improve wound healing when applied to closed incisions. However, data is limited in its application to laparotomy incisions in the acute care surgery setting.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed to evaluate the outcomes of SIMS with regard to surgical site infections in a series of 48 consecutive patients in which SIMS was applied to closed laparotomy incisions in the acute care surgery setting.

Results: 48 cases were matched with equivalent controls without significant differences between groups. Patients who received the SIMS had significantly lower rates of surgical site infection and readmission rates.

Conclusions: Negative pressure surgical incision management systems may be a novel approach to reduce surgical site infections in acute care surgery.