Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to Promote Wound Healing in Cancer-related Surgical Wounds

In this meta-analysis on negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) vs conventional wound care in cancer-related surgical wounds, the authors—Indri Lakhsmi Putri, Sp.BP-RE (KKF); Lavonia Berlina Adzalika, MD; Rachmaniar Pramanasari, MD; Citrawati Dyah Kencono Wungu, MD—aimed to evaluate the advantages and hazards of using NPWT on surgical wounds that have underlying malignant disease as compared with conventional wound care (CWC). This study, “Negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional wound care in cancer surgical wounds: a meta-analysis of observational studies and randomised controlled trials,” was published in the February 2022 issue of the International Wound Journal.¹

In the study, the primary outcome was wound complications, which were divided into the following categories: surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, hematoma, and wound dehiscence. The secondary outcome was hospital readmission. The authors then excluded studies with non-specified wound complications and studies without comparators.

The meta-analysis demonstrated favorable results for the risk of SSI and seroma between NPWT and cancer-related surgical wounds. The use of NPWT directly correlated to the patients experiencing fewer difficulties with SSI, hematoma, wound dehiscence, and hospital readmission. The authors noted that NPWT is not contraindicated in cancer-related surgical wounds and may be a valuable palliative treatment to stimulate wound healing.

—Cat Urbanski, Associate Digital Editor

Reference:

1. Putri IL, Adzalika LB, Pramanasari R, Wungu CDK. Negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional wound care in cancer surgical wounds: a meta-analysis of observational studies and randomised controlled trials. Int Wound J. 2022;10.1111/iwj.13756. doi:10.1111/iwj.13756