A group of researchers investigated the effects of incisional negative pressure wound therapy in perineal wound infections after abdominoperineal resection. They retrospectively evaluated 146 patients who underwent abdominal perineal resection. The study compared conventional gauze dressing (controls) with incisional negative pressure wound therapy. The Patients′ characteristics, surgical factors, and perineal infection rates between groups and patients characteristics, surgical factors, and negative pressure therapy use in perineal infection and non-infection groups including the risk factors for perineal infections were compared.  

The negative pressure therapy group was found to comprise of fewer men and lower  smoking prevalence, blood transfusion, drainage via the perineal wound, and intraoperative blood loss, while operation time was longer, compared with controls.

Negative pressure group demonstrated significantly fewer infections.

Univariate analysis demonstrated significantly higher laparoscopic surgery and negative pressure wound therapy-free rates and significantly more intraoperative blood loss in the infection-positive group.

Incisional negative pressure wound therapy-free status was rendered a risk factor for infection by multivariate analysis utilizing the aforementioned factors and preoperative radiotherapy

Researchers therefore concluded that the management of perineal wound infections after abdominoperineal resection can be effectively done by incisional negative pressure wound therapy.

Kaneko T, et al. Int Wound J. 2021;18(1):103-111.