Negative Pressure Dressing Therapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery

Negative Pressure Dressings Versus Non-negative Pressure Dressing for Wound Care Following Soft Tissue Sarcoma Excision

This randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the difference in surgical site infection following excision of soft tissue sarcomas. The intervention is a negative wound pressure therapy dressing for 120 hours, the control is standard absorbent dressings

Hypothesis: The application of a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressing will reduce rates of wound breakdown in patients with resection of soft tissue sarcomas which are primarily closed.

Patients will be randomised into either NPWT or standard absorbent dressings with primary outcome measure of surgical site infection according to the Health Protection Agency guidance. Secondary outcomes are; time to wound dryness, delayed discharge from hospital, adverse events, cost estimation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults undergoing primary soft tissue sarcoma excision which is primarily closed.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to consent
• Children
• Post radiation sarcomas or sarcoma in presence of active infection
• Multiple metastatic disease
• Presence of Endoprosthesis