NPWT for Abdominal Incisions in DIEP Reconstructions: A RCT

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Abdominal Incisions in DIEP Reconstructions: A RCT

The current study is a single center randomized control trial that will examine the effect of closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPT) versus conventional dressing on abdominal incision in a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap based reconstruction. Patients will be followed by 30 days post-operatively to compare outcomes including the rate of surgical site infection, seroma, and the scar quality.

The current study will examine the effect of closed incision negative pressure wound therapy on DIEP flap donor site. A total of 520 patients who are candidates for DIEP flap-based breast reconstruction will be included in this study, and randomly divided into the two groups. Those with contraindications to ciNPT will be excluded. The surgical consultation and procedure will be conducted same for both groups. Patients will be followed by 30 days post-operatively. Outcome measures will include incidence of surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, delayed wound healing, and surgical scar quality.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are undergoing either immediate, or delayed reconstruction of the breast following mastectomy
• Patients going either unilateral or bilateral reconstruction

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are not candidates for DIEP flap based breast reconstruction, such as those with insufficient abdominal tissue, or unfit for the surgery will be excluded from this study. -
• Patients who have contraindications to the ciNPT
• Patients who have pre-existing conditions that may confound results such as bleeding disorder or therapeutic anticoagulation will be excluded from the study.
• Patients who do not want to carry an additional canister from the ciNPT during the initial recovery phase will be excluded from the study.