Evaluation of negative-pressure wound therapy for surgical site infections after ileostomy closure in colorectal cancer patients: a prospective multicenter study

Purpose Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs at a high rate after ileostomy closure. The effect of preventive negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on SSI development in closed wounds remains controversial. We conducted a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the usefulness of preventive NPWT for SSI after ileostomy closure. Methods From January 2018 to November 2018, 50 patients who underwent closure of ileostomy created after surgery for colorectal cancer participated in this study. An NPWT device was applied to each wound immediately after surgery and then treatment was continued for 3 days. The primary endpoint was 30-day SSI, and the secondary endpoints were the incidence of seroma, hematoma, and adverse events related to NPWT. Results No patients developed SSI, seroma, or hematoma. Adverse events that may have been causally linked with NPWT were contact dermatitis in two patients and wound pain in one patient, and there were no cases of discontinuation or decompression of NPWT. Conclusion The use of NPWT following ileostomy closure may be useful for reducing the development of SSI in colorectal cancer patients. This is a prospective multicenter pilot study and we are planning a comparative study based on these successful results. Trail registration Registration number: UMIN000032053 ( https://www.umin.ac.jp/ ).