Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After Resection of Large, Radiated, Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has revolutionized wound care. Negative pressure therapy (NPT) is now being applied to closed incisions. Closed-incision NPT (ciNPT) management systems apply negative pressure to the incision and structurally stabilize the surrounding tissues. They are thought to be helpful in high-risk surgical closure. Patients with large sarcomas that have been previously radiated are considered to be among the highest risk for postoperative wound complications. We share our experience with ciNPT in two patients after resection of large, previously irradiated invasive sarcomas. In both cases, healing was uncomplicated. ciNPT shows promise of effective and favorable wound healing in early case reports. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials or registry studies will be necessary to provide higher levels of evidence for this technique.