Smith+Nephew’s PICO◊ Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System again shown to significantly reduce surgical site complications

Smith+Nephew (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, is pleased to announce a new publication showing that its PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System (sNPWT) significantly reduced the odds of surgical site infections (SSIs) by 63%^*, the odds of seroma by 77%^†, and the odds of dehiscence by 30%^‡. A significant benefit of these reduced odds was an almost 2-day reduction in length of stay^§, suggesting potential for substantial efficiency gains across the healthcare system¹.

The systematic review and meta-analysis included 29 studies on the outcomes of 5,614 patients. It demonstrated that using PICO sNPWT on closed surgical incisions resulted in significant benefits for patients across different surgical specialties, including orthopaedic, obstetric, cardiothoracic, colorectal, vascular and breast surgery, from a wide geographical distibution¹.

The development of post-operative surgical site complications (SSCs), which includes SSIs, are a substantial burden for patients and healthcare systems, globally². It is estimated that 5% of all patients undergoing a surgical procedure will develop an SSI². In the U.S. alone, more than 500,000 patients are affected by SSIs each year, resulting in about 8,000 deaths annually³. SSIs are also the most common reason for readmission to hospital, accounting for 19.5% of overall readmissions⁴. However, 60% of all SSIs are considered preventable².  

“This new meta-analysis is another significant addition to the growing body of evidence supporting PICO therapy for SSC prevention, and helps provide important insights into optimising clinical management strategies for preventing SSIs, which are an increasing concern for healthcare providers and their patients around the world,” said Cathy Dalene, Senior Vice President Global Marketing, Advanced Wound Management, Smith+Nephew.

The unique PICO sNPWT dressing includes the proprietary AIRLOCK^◊ Technology for uniform and consistent delivery of therapeutic NPWT across a closed surgical incision and the surrounding zone of injury⁵. PICO sNPWT has been shown to help reduce SSCs by helping to reduce lateral tensile forces⁶ and oedema^7-9, whilst increasing perfusion^{10, 11} and lymphatic drainage¹² across close surgical incision.

PICO sNPWT has a strong evidence base with 137 published papers of which 21 are published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 are health economic studies¹³. This includes medical technology guidance from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which supports the adoption of PICO sNPWT as it provides better outcomes than standard care for helping to prevent SSCs in high-risk patients with closed surgical incisions, with similar overall cost¹⁴.

To learn more about PICO sNPWT see www.smith-nephew.com/pico

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^* odds ratio (OR) 0.37, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.28 to 0.50, p < 0.001, numbers needed to treat (NNT) 20; compared with standard dressings

^† OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.45, p < 0.001, NNT 13; compared to standard dressings

^‡ OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.92, p = 0.01, NNT 26; compared to standard dressings

^§ mean difference -1.75, 95% CI -2.69 to -0.81, p < 0.001; compared to standard dressings

About Smith+Nephew

Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business that exists to restore people’s bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose ‘Life Unlimited’. Our 17,500+ employees deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients’ lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global franchises of Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management and Sports Medicine & ENT.

Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in more than 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $5.1 billion in 2019. Smith+Nephew is a constituent of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). The terms ‘Group’ and ‘Smith+Nephew’ are used to refer to Smith & Nephew plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

For more information about Smith+Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

To learn more about how we can help you get CLOSER TO ZERO^◊ surgical site complications, please visit www.closertozero.com 

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