Should infected laparotomy wounds be treated with negative pressure wound therapy?
A best evidence topic in surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed whether there is any benefit in treating infected laparotomy wounds with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Forty-five papers were found using the reported search; of which 4 represented the best evidence to answer the question. The evidence on this subject is limited; there is a single non-randomised controlled trial, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 1 retrospective cohort study discussed in this paper. From the available literature, the use of NPWT in infected laparotomy wounds does reduce the length of hospital stay, the number of dressing changes required and promote faster wound healing.
School of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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A
Tan
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK. Electronic address: n.gollop@doctors.org.uk.
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ND
Gollop
School of Medicine, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
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SG
Klimach
School of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
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M
Maruthappu
School of Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK.
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SF
Smith
D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*
Infected laparotomy; Negative pressure wound therapy; Vacuum associated closure therapy