Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention is not cost-effective - Summary - MDSpire

Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention is not cost-effective

  • By

  • Pedro Saramago

  • Athanasios Gkekas

  • Catherine E Arundel

  • Ian C Chetter

  • the SWHSI-2 Trial Investigators

  • Belen Corbacho Martin

  • Catherine Hewitt

  • Andrew Mott

  • Samantha Swan

  • David Torgerson

  • Jacqueline Wilkinson

  • Sabeen Zahra

  • Jane Blazeby

  • Rhiannon Macefield

  • Stephen Dixon

  • Josie Hatfield

  • Angela Oswald

  • Jo Dumville

  • Matthew Lee

  • Thomas Pinkney

  • Nikki Stubbs

  • Lyn Wilson

  • May 6, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention (SWHSI) compared to standard dressings from the perspective of the UK healthcare system.

Key Findings:
  • NPWT was associated with higher costs and marginally higher QALYs than standard dressings, but lacked sufficient evidence to support its cost-effectiveness.
  • The estimated probability of NPWT being cost-effective was less than 30%.
  • No evidence was found demonstrating NPWT as a cost-effective alternative to standard dressings for SWHSI.
Interpretation:

The findings indicate considerable uncertainty regarding the cost-effectiveness of NPWT, primarily due to variability in the estimated pooled relative effect from the meta-analysis, which raises concerns about the reliability of the results.

Limitations:
  • Limited evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of NPWT, which undermines the economic model's assumptions.
  • High uncertainty in the economic model's findings, which may affect decision-making.
  • Results not statistically significant, indicating a need for caution in interpretation.
Conclusion:

NPWT does not appear to be a cost-effective treatment for SWHSI compared to standard dressings, highlighting the need for further research, particularly in areas such as long-term outcomes and patient quality of life.

Original Source(s)

Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention is not cost-effective

  • by Pedro Saramago, Athanasios Gkekas, Catherine E Arundel, Ian C Chetter, the SWHSI-2 Trial Investigators, Belen Corbacho Martin, Catherine Hewitt, Andrew Mott, Samantha Swan, David Torgerson, Jacqueline Wilkinson, Sabeen Zahra, Jane Blazeby, Rhiannon Macefield, Stephen Dixon, Josie Hatfield, Angela Oswald, Jo Dumville, Matthew Lee, Thomas Pinkney, Nikki Stubbs, Lyn Wilson

  • May 6, 2025

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