Clinical application of early open wound negative pressure therapy in high-risk wounds of open intestinal surgery

ZOU Qi; LUO Guizhi; HE Yumei; ZHENG Kehong

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1674-4500.2026.02.06

Abstract：Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an early open wound negative therapy protocol for high-risk wounds after open intestinal surgery.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted.Clinical data of 57 abdominal-surgery patients judged to be at high risk for impaired wound healing who underwent open intestinal procedures at the Department of General Surgery,Zhujiang Hospital,Southern Medical University from June 2022 to August 2024 were reviewed.Thirty-five patients received conventional postoperative wound care(standard dressing changes),whereas 22 patients were managed with early open wound negative therapy.The two groups were compared for wound-healing time,number of dressing changes,time to first postoperative ambulation,comfort during first ambulation,1-week postoperative pain(visual analogue scale),scar score,and incidence of adverse wound events(fat liquefaction,surgical-site infection,enterocutaneous fistula,etc.).Results Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups(P>0.05).All 57 wounds healed.Compared with the conventional-care group,the early open wound negative pressure group showed significantly better outcomes in wound-healing time,number of dressing changes,incidence of adverse wound events,and scar score(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed in time to first ambulation,comfort during first ambulation,or 1-week postoperative pain scores(P>0.05).Conclusion Early open wound negative pressure therapy for high-risk abdominal wounds after open intestinal surgery provides reliable wound healing,is practical to perform,yields superior cosmetic results,and is well accepted by patients;it merits wider clinical adoption.