Meta-analysis of prophylactic closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy for vascular surgery groin wounds

A previous meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) on vascular surgery groin wounds reported a reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs). Our aim was to perform a comprehensive, updated meta-analysis after the largest multicenter RCT on the subject to date reported no benefits from ciNPWT.

A systematic review identified RCTs that had compared the primary outcome of the incidence of postoperative SSIs of groin incisions treated with ciNPWT or standard dressings. The secondary outcomes included wound dehiscence, a composite incidence of seroma, lymph leakage, and hematoma, the need for reoperation, in-hospital mortality, the need for readmission, and the hospital length of stay. The odds ratios (ORs) were compared across the studies using a random effects meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, Harbord test, and trim-and-fill analysis.

Eight RCTs with 1125 incisions (ciNPWT, n = 555 [49.3%]; control, n = 570 [50.7%]) were included. The RCTs included three studies inside and five outside the United States. ciNPWT was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of SSIs (OR, 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.63; P < .001). No significant differences were found in the rate of wound dehiscence (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.67-1.83; P = .68), composite incidence of seroma, lymph leak, or hematoma (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.13-1.76; P = .27), need for reoperation (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.40-1.16; P = .16), or need for readmission (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.30-1.21; P = .15). It was not possible to quantitatively evaluate in-hospital mortality or the hospital length of stay. The risk of bias assessment identified a high risk of bias for participant blinding in all eight studies, a low risk for randomization and outcome reporting, and variability between studies for the other methods. We found no evidence of publication bias.

Our meta-analysis of pooled data has suggested that prophylactic use of ciNPWT for vascular groin incisions will be associated with reduced rates of SSIs. The greatest benefits were seen in the trials with higher baseline rates of SSIs in the control group.