Preventing Early Complications Following Oncologic Breast Surgery: The NDoCaSco Score for Targeted Negative-Pressure...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Plastic Surgery
• Wound Care

Background:

• Negative-Pressure Wound Dressing (NPWD) shows promise in enhancing wound healing after breast surgery.
• Patient selection is crucial for maximizing NPWD benefits in oncologic breast surgery.
• The NDoCaSco system was developed to identify patients most likely to benefit from NPWD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the NDoCaSco system in guiding NPWD application after breast oncologic surgery.
• To compare outcomes of patients treated with NPWD based on NDoCaSco risk stratification versus traditional dressings.
• To assess the impact of NPWD on wound healing, complications, and resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study enrolled patients undergoing breast oncologic surgery between 2022-2023.
• The NDoCaSco system stratified patients into low, moderate, and high-risk categories for post-operative complications.
• Risk stratification determined the use of traditional dressings or NPWD (short-term/long-term).

Main Results:

• A total of 739 patients were analyzed, comparing a prospective NPWD group with a retrospective control group.
• Patients receiving NPWD based on NDoCaSco scores exhibited lower complication incidence and faster healing times.
• Improved scar quality was observed in moderate-risk patients treated with NPWD compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The NDoCaSco system successfully identifies breast surgery patients who benefit from NPWD.
• NPWD application guided by NDoCaSco leads to accelerated healing and fewer complications.
• This targeted approach reduces healthcare resource expenditure through fewer outpatient visits and hospital admissions.