Rationale behind preemptive use of NPWT, the next step of use of NPWT in general surgery.

WHO estimates approximately 234 million major surgeries globally (i.e. operative procedure, involving significant risks to the patient). SSO (Surgical Site Occurences) affect up to 25% of patients, undergoing operative procedures, with the subset of surgical site infections (SSIs) being the most common. 1 in 20 patients is affected by hospital associated infection.

SSI account for 31-36% of all health care associated infections, being the major cause of morbidity (data CDC 2013, 2016, ECDC 2014, 2016)

Martin Hutan
Department of Surgery, Landesklinikum