OPTIMIZING POSTOPERATIVE WOUND CARE: NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY VERSUS CONVENTIONAL DRESSING IN ABDOMINAL SURGERY

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infections remain a frequent postoperative complication following abdominal surgery and are associated with delayed wound healing, prolonged hospital stay, and increased healthcare costs. Conventional saline-soaked gauze dressing has traditionally been used for wound management, but negative pressure wound therapy has emerged as a promising alternative that may enhance wound healing by reducing edema, promoting granulation tissue formation, and decreasing bacterial burden.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in Surgical Unit IV, SIMS and Services Hospital Lahore, over a six-month period from 31 December 2020 to 30 June 2021. A total of 100 patients aged 18 to 60 years who developed surgical site infection following elective abdominal surgery with a midline incision were enrolled. Patients were randomized into two equal groups using a random access table: Group A received negative pressure wound therapy, while Group B received conventional saline-soaked sterile gauze dressing. The primary outcome was wound healing efficacy at the seventh postoperative day, defined as absence of surgical site infection and presence of healthy granulation tissue. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21, and results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations.

Results: The mean age of participants was 48.27 ± 6.99 years, with 60 percent of patients aged 50 years or younger. Male patients constituted 71 percent of the study population. Negative pressure wound therapy was effective in achieving wound healing by day seven in 42 patients (84 percent), while only 8 patients (16 percent) required prolonged dressing. In contrast, conventional dressing resulted in successful wound healing in 33 patients (66 percent), whereas 17 patients (34 percent) required extended wound care. Overall, negative pressure wound therapy demonstrated superior efficacy compared to conventional wound dressing.

Conclusion: Negative pressure wound therapy is more effective than conventional saline gauze dressing for the management of surgical site infections following abdominal surgery, leading to improved wound healing outcomes.