Negative-pressure wound therapy does not reduce superficial SSI in pancreatectomy and hepatectomy procedures

Surgical site infections (SSIs) lead to increased morbidity and cost. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) removes wound exudate and improves local blood flow, but its effect on SSI is unproven following hepatectomy and pancreatectomy. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of NPWT on SSI in this population.

Patients were randomized to incisional NPWT or sterile island dressing following surgery. SSI predictive factors were recorded as well as patient comorbidities. Wound complications and type of SSI were recorded prospectively.

Forty patients received the standardized perioperative bundle. Twenty patients received sterile island: 11 hepatic and 9 pancreatic resections; 20 patients received NPWT: 11 hepatic and 9 pancreatic resections; 23 patients were male; mean age 60.8 years (SD ±10.3); mean BMI 31.7 (SD ±7.0). There were three incisional wound infections: two with sterile island, one with NPWT; six organ space infections: four sterile island and two NPWT. There were no significant differences in SSI rates between groups (P = .57).

NPWT does not improve SSI rates over simple sterile dressing following hepatectomy or pancreatectomy. Improvements in SSI must be directed toward organ-space infections, which are unaffected by NPWT.