Experience using closed incision negative pressure wound therapy in sternotomy patients

Postoperative delayed wound healing, surgical site infections (SSIs), and other wound complications are associated with increased morbidity and health-care costs. In cardiothoracic surgery, wound complications can have life-threatening consequences. In recent years, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been applied over closed surgical incisions to help reduce tension and protect from external contamination. We report our initial experiences using a closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) over clean, closed sternotomy incisions at an Irish tertiary referral centre.

A retrospective record review identified 10 patients (4 females, 6 males) where ciNPT was used following sternotomy for cardiac surgery or other mediastinal surgery between January 2012 and March 2013.

The patients had an average age of 71.5±14.18 years (range: 44-89 years). Patient comorbidities included obesity, hypertension, active tobacco use, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve replacement (AVR), AVR and CABG, or removal of a thymic mass or mediastinal cyst. ciNPT was left in place for an average of 6±0.82 days. All incisions healed without complications.

ciNPT use should be considered for patients at risk for postoperative SSI development or other wound complications.