Risk of wounds reopening cut 50%

Rome - The application and development of therapies based on negative pressure to heal surgical incisions reduces the chance of infection and re-opening of the wounds by 50% on average The positive impact of the use of negative pressure, and the controlled application of sub-atmospheric pressure, emerged at the Make Better Summit international conference being held in Rome and organized by Acelity, a company specializing in wound care and regenerative medicine.
    "By adopting innovative devices that apply a negative pressure on the suture, for example in surgery, they also reduce post-operative complications, as shown by data collected in several clinical trials," said Chiara Viceli, director of market access for Acelity.
    Negative pressure in therapy involves reducing the pressure around wounds to increase blood flow, reduce infection and speed healing. Consequently, it reduces the length of a patient's hospital stay and the total cost of the treatment, reducing health system costs.
    "The application of this therapeutic solution protects the wound from contamination from the outside environment and helps to reduce tension around the incision, reducing the risk of re-opening," said Viceli.
    She said that tests have shown "a reduction in the rate of infection in obese patients undergoing cardiac surgery".
    In a random study of patients treated with negative pressure, the rate of infections was only 4% compared with a 16% infection rate in patients treated with standard dressing.
    The means a 75% reduction in infections, said Viceli.