APPLICATIONS AND RESULTS OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF COMPLEX SURGICAL WOUNDS AND PREVENTION OF ABDOMINAL WALL COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Complications related to surgical wounds, including surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, seroma, and hematoma, remain among the leading causes of morbidity following abdominal surgery, negatively affecting patient recovery and increasing healthcare costs. In this context, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has become an important therapeutic and preventive strategy for the management of complex surgical wounds and the prevention of abdominal wall complications. This chapter provides a structured narrative review addressing the physiological basis of NPWT, its mechanisms of action, major clinical indications, and the current scientific evidence supporting its use in abdominal surgery. The applications of NPWT in open wounds, open abdomen management, abdominal wall reconstruction, and closed surgical incisions in high-risk patients are discussed, emphasizing its role in reducing surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, and the need for reoperations. Limitations, contraindications, and future perspectives are also presented, considering technological advances and the increasing incorporation of NPWT into modern surgical protocols. Current evidence indicates that Negative Pressure Wound Therapy is an effective and safe approach to optimize wound healing, reduce postoperative complications, and improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, particularly those at high risk for abdominal wall complications.