Growing body of evidence supports use of PICO? Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to address challenges of surgical incision complications

Smith & Nephew (LSE:SN) (NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, announces the conclusion of the 6th International Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Expert Meeting. 300 international experts convened in Berlin between 20-21st March. 35 speakers from 11 countries defined the challenges of surgical site complications, sharing new evidence on clinical outcomes of using Smith & Nephew’s PICO^?, a unique, canister-free NPWT system for reducing closed incision complications in high risk patients. Evidence for PICO on closed incisions is growing in a number of surgical areas, including orthopaedic, cardiothoracic and plastic surgery.^1-4 The Meeting saw data from 14 studies involving PICO, including 7 randomised controlled trials across different niches.

6th International Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Expert Meeting, Berlin (Photo: Business Wire)

Complications can be devastating for the patient and it’s estimated they can double the cost of the initial surgery⁵. NPWT helps prevent wound complications by stimulating blood flow in the peri-incisional area, removing excess fluid, helping reduce oedema, and stabilising the incision site by reducing lateral tension. These actions work together to reduce complications such as surgical dehiscence, seroma and haematoma formation and surgical site infections (SSIs).^6-9

A recent, international, multi-centre RCT³ involving 200 bilateral breast reduction patients found PICO significantly reduced incidence of surgical dehiscence, and improved the visual appearance of the scar at 42 and 90 days post-surgery. Professor Donald Hudson, Head of Department, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa: "There’s no doubt that indications will extend to all aspects of breast surgery such as onco-plastic and reconstructive surgery. There are early suggestions that scarring is better with PICO, so I see this product extending into cosmetic surgery.”

Mr John Murphy, Consultant Onco-plastic, Reconstruction and Cosmetic Breast Surgeon at University Hospital South Manchester, presented clinical experience of using PICO in complex breast reconstructions after mastectomy. He underlined the need for interventions to help oncology patients avoid psychological effects of complications and the potential impact of therapies such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Mr Michael Sugrue, Consultant Breast and General Surgeon, Letterkenny General Hospital/UCHG, County Donegal: "The impact of NPWT is enormous. We’ve opened our minds to the future: negative pressure has a place in it.”

^? Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

Full press release, video and references: http://www.smith-nephew.com/news-and-media/media-releases/news/6th-npwt-expert-meeting-pico-evidence/

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