Closed incision NPWT / ciNPWT

Definition: When NPWT is applied over a closed incision, it is referred to as ciNPWT - closed incision negative pressure therapy. The closed incision NPWT (ciNPWT) is one of main types of negative pressure wound therapy.

This specific type, closed incision NPWT also referred to as prophylactic or preventative NPWT. ciNPWT is used on primary closure surgical sites to reduce risk of surgical site complications, such as surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, haematoma, local skin ischaemia and necrosis, surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) and delayed wound healing. There is a substantial body of evidence that NPWT, applied over closed incisions, reduces the rates of surgical site complications, and improves scar quality. Both traditional NPWT and sNPWT can be applied as ciNPWT depending on the characteristics of the wound and wound treatment setting.

The indications and the evidence behind them are constantly increasing in accordance with the new studies and growing popularity of this treatment method.

International groups of clinical specialists have shared their experiences of using negative pressure wound therapy in the management of numerous wound types in various articles and documents.

Among other an expert international panel of specialist surgeons with a high level of experience of NPWT in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) convened to discuss the appropriate use of NPWT in this specialty. They identified the limitations, cautions, contraindications and advantages of NPWT usage in PRS. Read and download the full article: Optimising the use of traditional NPWT in plastic and reconstructive surgery (linkforwoundhealing.info)

EWMA has established an interdisciplinary working group which described knowledge regarding NPWT and provide an overview of its implications for the organization of care, documentation, communication, patient safety, and health economic aspects. You can download the full document: EWMA Document: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. Overview, Challenges and Perspectives (linkforwoundhealing.info)

(Source: WUWHS. Consensus Document. Closed surgical incision management: Understanding the role of NPWT. Wounds International, 2016)

Last edited: November 18, 2024

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Closed incision NPWT / ciNPWT