Prophylactic Negative-pressure Dressings Reduce Wound Complications and Resource Burden After Emergency Laparotomies

Background Surgical site infection (SSI) and wound breakdown after emergency laparotomy are common. They incur significant patient morbidity and health care costs. Negative-pressure dressings (NPDs) applied over closed incisions may minimize wound complications. However, its utility in the emergency setting is unknown. Here, we examined whether prophylactic NPD reduces wound complications after emergency laparotomies. Methods This is a retrospective review of consecutive emergency laparotomies undertaken at a university hospital from January 2018 to October 2019. Outcomes included the rate of SSI, wound breakdown, hospital-outreach service utilization, wound-related readmissions, and length of stay. Propensity score matched analysis was used to assess bias. Results A total of 227 emergency laparotomies were reviewed, 70 received NPD and 157 had conventional dressings (controls). SSI was identified in 33 (21.0%) patients from the control group and six (8.6%) from the NPD group (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.15-0.85, P = 0.022). Wound breakdown was observed in 21 (13.4%) patients from the control group and three (4.3%) from the NPD group (odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.09-0.91, P = 0.040). The prophylactic benefit of NPD was most evident in clean-contaminated, contaminated, and dirty wounds. The NPD group had comparatively shorter postoperative stay, less outreach service utilization, and lower rates of wound-related readmissions. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age, body weight >75 kg, and wound contamination are independent predictors of wound complications, whereas NPD prevented SSI and wound breakdown. Conclusions Prophylactic NPD significantly reduced wound complications after emergency laparotomy. This was associated with a substantial health resource saving. This study provides a strong rationale for randomized trials in this area.