Meta-analysis of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy for surgical site infections (SSI) in caesarean section surgery

INTRODUCTION: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used in reducing the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) and wound complications across various surgical categories. SSIs are a common post-surgical complication following caesarean section (CS) births, making it necessary to use prophylactic interventions to reduce SSI and wound complication incidences. AIM: To conduct an updated meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SSI incidence and wound complications in women undergoing C-sections receiving NPWT or standard dressings after wound closure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases, and clinical trial registries for RCTs that involved NPWT versus standard dressings in participants undergoing C-section procedures. The primary outcome was surgical site infection (SSI) and other wound complications (haematoma, dehiscence, seroma. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis with information from 5,693 patients. A reduction in overall SSI incidence (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66–0.95, p = 0.01, I(2) = 0%) and wound complication rate (RR = 0.86, 0.75 to 0.98, p = 0.02, I(2) = 5%) was found with all studies pooled together. Subgroup analyses showed that NPWT did not significantly reduce SSI incidence when stratified by the type of C-section (emergency/elective) whereas the type of NPWT device had a differential effect on SSI reduction, with PICO NPWT systems showing a beneficial effect (RR = 0.72, 0.58 to 0.91, p = 0.006, I(2) = 0%) in comparison to the PREVENA closed-incision device (RR = 0.94, 0.68 to 1.29, p = 0.73, I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic NPWT is useful in reducing the incidence of SSIs in women undergoing C-sections based on synthesis of results from RCTs in obese women (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)).