Economic overview
There is increasing pressure on the health system as a result of more complex, high risk pregnancies presenting to maternity units. Complex pregnancies and medical issues, such as obese patients, multiple births, older mothers and chronic diseases like diabetes, increases the risk of complications, contributing to the growing need for caesarean section.
- 1 in 10 women undergoing a C-section experience a Surgical Site Infection (SSI)1
- 1 in 7 women with diabetes undergoing a C-section experiences an SSI1
- 1 in 5 with a BMI >35 experience an SSI1
Managing SSIs is becoming more costly at a time when healthcare budgets are tighter and quality of care is closely scrutinised. The cost to the patient can be even higher - the impact of SSIs on the wellbeing of new mothers at this important time in their lives can be devastating.


Clinical overview
PICO◊ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a revolutionary single use, canister free, incision management system. The use of PICO Single Use NPWT to reduce surgical site complications following C-section surgery, has been shown to lead to improved outcomes whilst lowering the costs associated with post-operative management.4
On a closed incision such as a C-section, the PICO system helps hold the edges of the incision together5, and has been proven to reduce the risk of infection4-6 and other complications, including seromas.6 In a recent study, PICO was used on patients who were identified to be high risk (BMI >35) and OPSITE◊ Post-Op Visible was used in uncomplicated, low risk cases (BMI <35). Following this protocol, the hospital experienced no readmissions for these high risk patients. Data was collated through post-discharge surveillance with patients monitored for 30 days post operatively.4
References
- Wloch C, Wilson J, Lamagni T, Harrington P, Charlett A, Sheridan E. Risk factors for surgical site infection following caesarean section in England: results from a multicentre cohort study. BJOG 2012.
- Health Protection Agency (2012) Risk of infection from caesareans at nearly 10 percent, http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentreNationalPressReleases/2012PressReleases/120801Infectionriskfromcsection/ accessed March 2014.
- Jenks PJ et al., (2014) Clinical and economic burden of surgical site infection (SSI) and predicted financial consequences of elimination of SSI from an English hospital. Journal of Hospital Infection; 86. 24-33.
- Bullough L, Wilkinson D, Burns S, Wan L (2014) Changing wound care protocols to reduce postoperative caesarean section infection and readmission. Wounds UK; 10(1) 84-89.
- Hudson D, Adams K, Huyssteen A, Martin M and Huddleston E. (2013). Simplified Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: clinical evaluation of an ultraportable, no-canister system.
- Selvaggi F et al., (2014) New Advances in Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for Surgical Wounds of Patients Affected with Crohn’s Disease. Surgical Technology International XXIV.