Usefulness of Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Decreasing Wound Complication Rates and Seroma Formation Following Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction

Background Seroma is a common complication in prepectoral breast reconstruction. PICO TM dressing, a type of incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT), was used to reduce complications postoperatively. Methods This study was a retrospective cohort study that included patients who underwent prepectoral breast reconstruction between February 2017 and July 2019. There were two groups: one that received PICO TM dressing and a control group. The frequencies of overall complications, major seromas, and reoperations were analyzed. The durations and total amounts of seromas were also analyzed. Result Sixty patients were included in this study (PICO TM : 37 and non-PICO TM patients: 23). The overall incidence of complications, major seromas, and frequency of reoperations were lower in the PICO group compared to the non-PICO TM group (18.9% vs. 52.2%, p = 0.007; 16.2% vs. 43.5%, p = 0.020; 2.7% vs. 26.1%, p = 0.006, respectively). Univariate analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for complications due to the application of PICO TM dressing and showed statistically significant results for any complication. When univariate analysis was performed on risk factors for seroma, the duration of seroma showed statistical significance in association with PICO TM dressing status and mastectomy volume. The total number of patients who developed seroma was statistically correlated with age, PICO TM dressing status, and mastectomy volume. Conclusions PICO TM dressing after prepectoral breast reconstruction could be a useful tool for reducing the frequency of complications and major seroma, as well as the duration and total incidences of seroma. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .