Dumville JC, Owens GL, Crosbie EJ, Peinemann F, Liu Z, et al.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Date of publication 2015 Jun 4;volume (6):CD011278.
1. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jun 4;(6):CD011278. doi:
10.1002/14651858.CD011278.pub2.
Negative pressure wound therapy for treating surgical wounds healing by secondary
intention.
Dumville JC(1), Owens GL, Crosbie EJ, Peinemann F, Liu Z.
Author information:
(1)School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M13 9PL.
BACKGROUND: Following surgery, incisions are usually closed by fixing the edges
together with sutures (stitches), staples, adhesive glue or clips. This process
helps the cut edges heal together and is called 'healing by primary intention'.
However, not all incised wounds are closed in this way: where there is high risk
of infection, or when there has been significant tissue loss, wounds may be left
open to heal from the 'bottom up'. This delayed healing is known as 'healing by
secondary intention'. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is one treatment
option for surgical wounds that are healing by secondary intention.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on
the healing of surgical wounds healing by secondary intention (SWHSI) in any care
setting.
SEARCH METHODS: For this review, in May 2015 we searched the following databases:
the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; The Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials; Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed
Citations; Ovid EMBASE; and EBSCO CINAHL. There were no restrictions based on
language or date of publication.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Published or unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
comparing the effects of NPWT with alternative treatments or different types of
NPWT in the treatment of SWHSI. We excluded open abdominal wounds from this
review as they are the subject of a separate Cochrane review that is in draft.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently performed study
selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction.
MAIN RESULTS: We located two studies (69 participants) for inclusion in this
review. One study compared NPWT with an alginate dressing in the treatment of
open, infected groin wounds. and one study compared NPWT with a silicone dressing
in the treatment of excised pilonidal sinus. The trials reported limited outcome
data on healing, adverse events and resource use.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is currently no rigorous RCT evidence available
regarding the clinical effectiveness of NPWT in the treatment of surgical wounds
healing by secondary intention as defined in this review. The potential benefits
and harms of using this treatment for this wound type remain largely uncertain.
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011278.pub2
PMID: 26042534 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
