Yu and colleagues sought to determine if the prophylactic use of negative-pressure devices, compared with standard wound dressing, was effective in reducing the frequency of SSI after CD.
Several types of negative-pressure devices were used, but the 2 most common were the Prevena incision management system (KCI, San Antonio, Texas) and PICO negative-pressure wound therapy (Smith & Nephew, St.
Yu and colleagues explained that negative-pressure devices exert their beneficial effects in various ways, including:
Multiple studies in nonobstetric patients have shown that prophylactic use of negative-pressure devices is beneficial in reducing the rate of SSI.
Before routinely adopting the use of negative-pressure devices for all women having CD, however, obstetricians should consider the following caveats: