Modified Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Increases Seroma Evacuation: An Ex Vivo Model

The use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy on high-risk breast cancer mastectomy patients

BACKGROUND

The main complications seen in patients who have undergone modified radical mastectomy (MRM) are seroma, surgical site infection, hematoma, wound dehiscence, flap necrosis, and nerve damage. While these complications lead to some problems the most feared effect in the early period is that they cause a delay in adjuvant treatment. Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (iNPWT) decreases wound dehiscence by reducing oedema and tension, especially in the incision line. This study aim to compare recovery times and wound site complications between patients treated with conventional wound dressings and patients treated with iNPWT after MRM.

METHODS

A retrospective screening was made of the data of 50 patients who underwent MRM because of breast cancer in the General Surgery Clinic of XXX Hospital between 2018 and 2022, and were at high-risk of wound site complications. Two groups were formed as 30 patients applied with iNPWT and 20 patients applied with conventional dressings.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 50 female patients was 53.58 years (range, 30-80 years). The most frequently seen complications were seroma (20 patients) and partial flap ischaemia (14 patients). The mean number of iNPWT applications was 1.30 (range, 1-2), and the mean number of days of application was 4.47 (range, 2-9). Postoperative seroma was observed in 8 patients in the iNPWT group and in 12 patients in the conventional dressings group (p = 0.018). Flap ischaemia and the probability of dehiscence was determined at a statistically significantly higher rate in the patients in the conventional dressings groups (p = 0.005, p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrated that the use of iNPWT significantly reduced the amount of postoperative drainage, thereby contributing to early drain removal. Furthermore, iNPWT significantly reduced postoperative seroma, flap ischaemia, and flap dehiscence compared to conventional dressings.

Evaluation of Tissue Apposition and Seroma Prevention in an Ovine Model of Surgical Dead Space Using a Novel Air-Purged Vacuum Closure System

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications associated with seroma formation resulting from surgical dead space continue to present a challenge in modern surgery. There is an unmet need for new technologies that address surgical dead space as well as prevent seroma formation and associated downstream postoperative complications.

METHODS

The novel implantable tissue apposition and drainage system ENIVO was developed and tested in a bilateral ovine external abdominal oblique (EAO) resection model of surgical dead space. The ENIVO system is a portable powered pump and wound interface featuring air-purged vacuum closure (APVC) that delivers a sustained level of vacuum pressure (80 and 100 mmHg) to the treatment site with an intermittent burst of sterile filtered air through the implanted wound interface. Seroma area, seroma volume, and drain migration were assessed at postoperative days 7 and 14, and all animals were euthanized at day 28 with gross assessment of treatment efficacy including the presence of residual seroma and tissue apposition.

RESULTS

The bilateral model created relatively uniform defects of ~120 cm² following excision of ~30 to 50 g of EAO muscle. Median seroma area of ENIVO-treated defects was statistically smaller than standard of care (SoC)-treated defects at days 7 and 14. Median seroma volume at 14 days was significantly reduced in ENIVO-treated defects relative to SoC-treated defects [1.3 (IQR 0.0-79.5) mL and 188.5 (IQR 27.6-342.9) mL, respectively]. At postoperative day 28, 40% (n = 4/10) of SoC defects showed a residual seroma, whereas in contrast, none of the ENIVO-treated defects showed signs of a residual seroma. Median tissue apposition scoring was higher in the ENIVO treatment group [3 (IQR 3-3)] compared with the SoC group [3 (IQR 0-3)].

CONCLUSIONS

The ENIVO system represents a new approach to dead space management and seroma prevention and was shown to outperform a SoC surgical drain in a challenging large defect model of surgical dead space management and seroma prevention.

Incision pressing, a simple and effective intervention to reduce colorectal surgical site infection: A propensity score-matched study

Background

Colorectal surgery is associated with a high risk of surgical site infection (SSI). In March 2017, we developed an intervention, called “PRESS”, with the aim of reducing colorectal superficial SSI. This study assessed the effect of the new intervention in reducing the rates of superficial SSI in colorectal surgery.

Methods

This study was a retrospective review of 312 PRESS+ patients compared to 171 historical control PRESS− patients who were 18 years of age or older and underwent elective colorectal surgery with clean-contaminated wounds from January 2015 to June 2020. In the PRESS+ groups, we pressed the incision downward hard with clean gauze after the interrupted suturing of the skin. Propensity score matching with 15 variables was performed in a 1:1 ratio to reduce selection bias. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to identify risk factors associated with SSI.

Results

The characteristics of the PRESS+ (n = 160) and PRESS− (n = 160) groups were well balanced after propensity score matching. The PRESS+ group had a lower superficial SSI rate (1.9% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.029) and a lower overall SSI rate (2.5% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.006) than the PRESS− group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that the incisional press was an effective protective factor for superficial SSI (adjusted odds ratio = 0.215, 95% confidence interval = 0.057–0.818, P = 0.024). In addition, female sex (P = 0.048) and blood transfusion (P = 0.011) were demonstrated to be independent risk factors for superficial SSI.

Conclusion

The incisional press after suturing is a simple, costless, and effective intervention in reducing superficial incisional SSI.