Effects of single-use negative pressure wound therapy on healthcare use: US analysis of a large claims database

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of two single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) devices on healthcare resource use (HCRU) and surgical site complications (SSCs) after orthopaedic and cardiovascular surgery.

Method: Patient data were collected from the US-based Premier PINC AI Healthcare Database between January 2017 and June 2022. Adult patients upon whom the -80mmHg or -125mmHg sNPWT device was used within predefined orthopaedic and cardiovascular surgical categories were included. The HCRU endpoints measured were index encounter length of stay (LoS), and cost at index encounter and at 30 and 90 days post-surgery. Clinical endpoints were also assessed.

Results: The mean index encounter LoS, and mean cost at index admission and at 30 and 90 days post-surgery were all significantly lower when the -80mmHg device was used, compared with the -125mmHg device, across orthopaedic and cardiovascular wounds (all p<0.0001). The odds ratio (OR) for dehiscence (30 days) was significantly lower when the -80mmHg device was used versus the -125mmHg device in orthopaedic (OR: 0.361; p≤0.05) and cardiovascular (OR: 0.422; p≤0.01) wounds. Differences between the devices were not found in superficial and deep surgical site infections or seroma for either orthopaedic or cardiovascular incisions (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The -80mmHg device was associated with significantly lower HCRU and likelihood of dehiscence after orthopaedic and cardiovascular surgery versus the -125mmHg device and there were no differences in other SSCs.

Keywords: cardiovascular; healthcare resource use; negative pressure wound therapy; orthopaedic; surgical site complications; wound; wound care; wound dressing; wound healing.