The effect of postoperative negative pressure wound therapy on the incidence of wound dehiscence in high risk patients

Wound dehiscence is a serious postoperative complication with high morbidity and high mortality (up to 50%) and contributes to delays in the recovery process and to prolonged hospital stays.

Several case series show the positive effect of Prevena™ Incision Management System in the prevention of wound dehiscence, but good quality scientific research on this intervention is lacking. This randomized controlled study on this intervention (Prevena™ Incision Management System) is started in February 2015 in the Netherlands at the Radboud University Medical Center of Nijmegen and finished in 2016.

The aim of this study is to answer the question whether postoperative treatment with a wound dressing with negative pressure (Prevena™ Incision Management System) decreases the incidence of wound dehiscence compared to a wound dressing without negative pressure (standard wound dressing/care as usual) in high-risk patients undergoing an plastic surgical procedure.

Wound dehiscence is the rupturing or splitting apart of the margins of a clean closed incision, which generally appears in the first week after surgery.


The aim of this study is to answer the question whether postoperative treatment with a wound dressing with negative pressure (Prevena™ Incision Management System) decreases the incidence of wound dehiscence compared to a wound dressing without negative pressure (standard wound dressing/ care as usual) in high-risk patients undergoing an elective plastic surgical breast reconstruction.

T-1 = inclusion/exclusioncriteria, informed consent form, patiënts characteristics

T0 = surgery data

T1- T7 (1 week)= registration of body temperature, blood pressure, heart frequency, blood oxygen level, pain (NRS-score), allergy on the wound dressing, wound dehiscence

T8 = (4 weeks after surgery)= registration of pain (NRS-score), allergy on the wound dressing, wound dehiscence

In the experimental group Prevena™ Incision Management System is applicated in clean closed surgical incisions.



In the controlgroup a simple cotton wound dressing is applicated in clean closed surgical incisions. (care as usual, according to the CDC- Guidlines for Surgical Site Infection, 2014)