Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on surgical site infections (SSIs) compared to standard wound care in closed laparotomy wounds.
Methods: The study was conducted from March 2023 to December 2023 and included patients who underwent laparotomy between January 2022 and December 2022. Demographic details, preoperative preparation, operative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were extracted from patient records.
Results: Demographic analysis revealed a homogeneous age distribution between the two wound closure groups; however, a significant gender disparity was observed, with a greater proportion of males in the NPWT group. BMI distribution remained comparable across groups. Analysis of patient outcomes showed similar pre-operative transfusion rates and intraoperative blood loss. However, the NPWT group exhibited a tendency toward higher dependency in functional health status, along with a significantly prolonged length of hospital stay. Wound classification varied significantly, with a higher incidence of SSI observed in the NPWT group, particularly among contaminated wounds.
Conclusion: This study highlighted notable associations between wound closure methods and patient outcomes in laparotomy. While NPWT demonstrated comparable pre-operative characteristics, it was associated with longer hospital stays and a higher incidence of SSI, particularly in contaminated cases, warranting further investigation.

Key words: Negative pressure wound therapy, standard wound care, surgical site infections, closed laparotomy wounds, Saudi Arabia