Efficacy of incisional negative pressure therapy in preventing post-sternotomy wound complications

Sternal wound infections represent a source of significant morbidity and mortality following median sternotomy. The use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy in prevention has yet to be elucidated.

A retrospective study was conducted before and after a universal wound care protocol was implemented including the prophylactic use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The primary endpoint was sternal infections within 90 days of the index operation.

In the control period, there was a 3.0% rate of sternal infection within 90 days compared to 0.8% in the intervention period (p < 0.001). An odds ratio of 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.11, 0.57; p < 0.001) in the intervention period as compared to the control period was demonstrated.

The use of a standardized wound care protocol including the universal application of NPWT for patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy was an independent predictor of decreased rates of sternal infection.