Does negative pressure wound therapy applied to closed incisions following ventral hernia repair prevent wound complications and hernia recurrence? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite advances in surgical technique, ventral hernia repair (VHR) remains associated with significant postoperative wound complications.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to identify whether the application of negative pressure wound therapy to closed incisions (iNPWT) following VHR reduces the risk of postoperative wound complications and hernia recurrence.

Methods: The PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases were searched for studies published through October 2015. Publications that met the following criteria were included: adult patients undergoing VHR; comparison of iNPWT with conventional dressings; and documentation of wound complications and/or hernia recurrence. The methodological quality of included studies was independently assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies guidelines. Outcomes assessed included surgical site infection (SSI), wound dehiscence, seroma, and hernia recurrence. Meta-analysis was performed to obtain pooled ORs.

Results: Five retrospective cohort studies including 477 patients undergoing VHR were included in the final analysis. The use of iNPWT decreased SSI (OR 0.33 [95% CI 0.20 to 0.55]; P<0.0001), wound dehiscence (OR 0.21 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.55]; P=0.001) and ventral hernia recurrence (OR 0.24 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.75]; P=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of seroma formation (OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.27 to 1.27]; P=0.18).

Conclusions: For patients undergoing VHR, current evidence suggests a decreased incidence in wound complications using incisional NPWT compared with conventional dressings.