Equivalent outcomes with once versus thrice weekly dressing changes in midline laparotomy wounds treated with negative pressure wound therapy

Omar E Beidas; Tabitha Garwe; Ryan F Wicks; Aditi Jalla; Cressilee Bryant; Zoona Sarwar; Roxie M Albrecht

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.015

Equivalent outcomes with once versus thrice weekly dressing changes in midline laparotomy wounds treated with negative pressure wound therapy

Am J Surg. 2019 Jun;217(6):1065-1071. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.015. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

Authors

Omar E Beidas¹, Tabitha Garwe², Ryan F Wicks³, Aditi Jalla³, Cressilee Bryant³, Zoona Sarwar³, Roxie M Albrecht⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
² Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Electronic address: Roxie-Albrecht@ouhsc.edu.

PMID: 30342697
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.015

Abstract

Background: While negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used for decades, there is a paucity of data regarding the appropriate length of time between dressing changes.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized control trial examining time to wound closure in open midline laparotomy wounds treated with NPWT. The control group received the standard thrice weekly sponge changes (thrice) and the treatment group received once weekly sponge changes (once).

Results: 44 patients met study criteria over a 3-year period. There was no difference in NPWT duration between the two groups (37.1 vs 34.7 days, p = 0.7324), even after adjusting for potential confounders (p = 0.8091). No differences were found in initial wound size or reduction. The wound complication profile was similar for both groups.

Conclusion: There is no difference in time to wound closure or complications with NPWT dressing changes once a week compared to the standard three times a week.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bandages*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Laparotomy*
Male
Middle Aged
Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / methods*
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Wound Healing*
Young Adult