Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been widely studied for reducing surgical site infections (SSI) and improving wound healing. Recent large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) funded by NIHR found no significant benefit of NPWT or incisional NPWT (iNPWT) in reducing SSI or accelerating healing compared to standard dressings.
Background
Surgical site infections and delayed wound healing pose significant challenges, increasing patient morbidity and healthcare costs. NPWT, introduced nearly 30 years ago, aims to improve wound healing by applying suction to remove exudate and stimulate tissue repair. While early evidence was limited and conflicting, recent meta-analyses suggested moderate-certainty evidence that NPWT may reduce SSI. However, many studies had bias risks and industry funding, necessitating further robust trials.
Data Highlights
Trial
Participants
Setting
Outcome
Result
SUNRRISE
840
Emergency laparotomy (iNPWT)
SSI rates
No significant difference
SWHSI-2
686
Wounds healing by secondary intention
Time to wound healing
No benefit with NPWT
Key Findings
NPWT aims to reduce SSI by removing wound exudate and stimulating fibroblastic activity.
The 2022 Cochrane review (44 studies, 11,403 patients) found moderate-certainty evidence that NPWT probably reduces SSI but noted bias and industry funding concerns.
The SUNRRISE trial (840 patients) showed no reduction in SSI with iNPWT after emergency laparotomy.
The SWHSI-2 trial (686 patients) found no improvement in healing time or cost-effectiveness with NPWT for wounds healing by secondary intention.
Current guidelines (WHO 2018, NICE 2019) conditionally recommend iNPWT only for high-risk patients.
Ongoing large pragmatic trials like ROSSINI-Platform aim to provide context-specific evidence across surgical specialties.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should exercise caution in routine use of NPWT or iNPWT given the lack of consistent evidence for clinical or economic benefit. Use may be justified selectively in high-risk patients as per current guidelines. Resource allocation should consider the cost of NPWT devices against uncertain advantages, emphasizing the need for further high-quality, specialty-specific research.
Conclusion
Despite promising mechanistic rationale, recent high-quality trials do not demonstrate clear benefits of NPWT or iNPWT in reducing SSI or accelerating wound healing. Continued investigation is warranted to define patient populations and wound types that may derive benefit.
