A systematic review with meta‐analysis on prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy versus standard dressing for obese women after caesarean section

Abstract

AbstractAimsThe purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in obese women undergoing caesarean section.DesignAn updated review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception up to March 2022 without restriction in language. We chose surgical site infection as the primary outcome.ResultsNPWT resulted in a lower surgical site infection rate compared with conventional dressing (risk ratio [RR] = 0.76). The infection rate after low transverse incision was lower comparing the NPWT group with the control group ([RR] = 0.76). No statistically significant difference was detected in blistering([RR] = 2.91). The trial sequential analysis did not support the 20% relative decrease in surgical site infection in the NPWT group. (type II error of 20%).