title: Meta-analysis of negative-pressure wound therapy for closed surgical incisions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative wound complications are common following surgical procedures. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is well recognized for the management of open wounds and has been applied recently to closed surgical incisions. The evidence base to support this intervention is limited. The aim of this study was to assess whether NPWT reduces postoperative wound complications when applied to closed surgical incisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of NPWT compared with standard postoperative dressings on closed surgical incisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 1311 incisions in 1089 patients. NPWT was associated with a significant reduction in wound infection (relative risk (RR) 0·54, 95 per cent c.i. 0·33 to 0·89) and seroma formation (RR 0·48, 0·27 to 0·84) compared with standard care. The reduction in wound dehiscence was not significant. The numbers needed to treat were three (seroma), 17 (dehiscence) and 25 (infection). Methodological heterogeneity across studies led to downgrading of the quality of evidence to moderate for infection and seroma, and low for dehiscence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with standard postoperative dressings, NPWT significantly reduced the rate of wound infection and seroma when applied to closed surgical wounds. Heterogeneity between the included studies means that no general recommendations can be made yet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Plastic Surgery, Odense, Denmark.|Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hyldig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Birke-Sorensen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research (COHERE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vinter
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joergensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Plastic Surgery, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mogensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense, Denmark.|Division of Surgery, University College London, Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Plastic Surgery, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bille
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D049291:Seroma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome