Efficacy of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Laparotomy Wounds: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Year: 2025
Type: review
Study design: Study Protocol
Abstract: Introduction: A laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving an abdominal incision to access the peritoneal cavity, commonly performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including trauma management and the treatment of gynecological, pelvic, and abdominal conditions. In this context, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) serves as an effective adjunct to wound management by applying subatmospheric pressure to the wound bed, thereby promoting granulation tissue formation and reducing local inflammation. Objective: This systematic review will aim to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT compared to standard wound care in adult patients undergoing laparotomy, with specific attention to key clinical outcomes such as wound healing time, surgical site infection rates, wound dehiscence, and overall complication rates. Materials and methods: The systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines and uses the PICO framework for search terms. The studies will be identified through important databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science). Methodological quality and risk of bias will be assessed with JBI critical assessment tools. This protocol for a systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO (N. CRD420251058825). Results: The results of the systematic search and selection process will be reported using a PRISMA flowchart. The extracted data will include wound healing time, granulation tissue development, infection rates, and adverse events. The quantitative synthesis will be conducted if the homogeneity of the data allows it. Conclusions: This systematic review will synthesize the available evidence on the efficacy of NPWT in the management of laparotomy wounds. The findings will have implications for clinical practice in surgical wound care and may contribute to the development of standardized wound management protocols.
Source: NSC Nursing
DOI: 10.32549/opi-nsc-123
Authors: Melania De Filippo, Marco Abagnale, Anella Di Costanzo, Valeria Visconti, Fabio Gennaro Abagnale, Rita Citarella
Language: English
Topic: Wound Healing and Treatments
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412977658