Preparing for your Caesarean birth | Smith+Nephew Australia

Mums-To-Be:

Discover how PICO^◊ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy could help reduce risk of post operative wound infections.

Caesarean sections are generally safe, but like any type of surgery, they have some risks. One risk that is common to all types, is surgical site complications, particularly infection. The following information may help you better understand your risk of surgical site infection and one option available to you and your doctor to help reduce it.

Did you know?

Understanding caesarean births and their risks

Planned caesarean sections are sometimes the preferred method of delivery, while emergency caesarean sections may be required if complications develop either during or before your labour and delivery needs to be quick⁴.

Understanding caesarean sections is crucial as you prepare your birth plan. You might want to discuss with your doctor or obstetrician the potential risks and complications associated with caesarean sections, as well as any risk factors that could lead to wound infection⁴.

What factors affect whether I could get a surgical site infection?

Several factors can influence your likelihood of developing a surgical site infection. These are known as risk factors, and having more of them increases your chances of infection. Some of these risk factors include your body mass index (BMI) over 30, smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure⁵. Certain surgical circumstances, like undergoing repeat surgeries or needing emergency surgery, can also elevate your risk⁵.

Your healthcare provider can help identify and discuss other specific risk factors that may apply to your situation. It's also advisable to talk to your doctor or obstetrician about ways to prevent surgical site complications, including whether PICO 7 Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System (sNPWT) might be an appropriate option for you.

What is the PICO^◊ 7 system?

The PICO 7 system is designed to help wounds heal by using a suction device, known as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). The suction device helps to remove excess fluids and infectious materials from closed surgical wounds into the dressing, which could promote wound healing.

Here’s how it works:

The PICO 7 system is a small, lightweight^6,7, battery-powered unit that connects to a gentle⁸ silicone adhesive dressing via a tube. This dressing is applied to your wound right after surgery. Once in place, the device creates gentle suction to help keep the wound clean and protected, promoting wound healing and helps to reduce the risk of wound infection, particularly for patients with risk factors.⁹

You’ll use the device both in the hospital and at home for up to a week. The dressing is waterproof¹⁰, so you can shower^10,11 while wearing it, making wound care easy to manage with minimal impact to your daily routine.¹¹

The PICO Dressing:

Curious about adding the PICO 7 System to your birth plan?

Here are some things to discuss with your doctor:

Resources

Important

PICO7 is to be used under the direction of Healthcare Professional only.
The device can be used at home under the training and supervision of your Healthcare Professional.
PICO dressings should only be applied and changed by your Healthcare Professional.
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
Always follow directions for use.

Disclaimer

Smith & Nephew is not providing medical advice. Please speak to your Healthcare Professional about your risk of Surgical Site Infections. Your Healthcare provider will determine the suitable treatment for your condition considering your risk factors.

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Citations

1a: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) National Core Maternity Indicators, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2024.
1b: Health New Zealand 2024. Report on Maternity Web Tool. Wellington: Health New Zealand. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/report-on-maternity-web-tool/ [Accessed August 2024].
Vallejo MC, Attaallah AF, Shapiro RE, Elzamzamy OM, Mueller MG, Eller WS. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection after cesarean delivery in a rural tertiary care medical center. J Anesth. 2017;31(1):120-126. doi:10.1007/s00540-016-2266-2.
Yoong SL, Tursan d’Espaignet E, Wiggers J, St Claire S, Mellin-Olsen J, Grady A et al. Tobacco and postsurgical outcomes: WHO tobacco knowledge summaries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2020). Caesarean section. https://ranzcog.edu.au/womens-health/patient-information-resources/caesarean-section [Last accessed: August 2024]
World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) Consensus Document. Closed surgical incision management: understanding the role of NPWT. Wounds International, 2016 (Funded by Smith+Nephew)
Smith & Nephew 2018.PICO 14 Pump weight and dimensions. Internal Report. RD/18/137.
Hurd T, Trueman P, Rossington A. Use of a Portable, Single-use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device in Home Care Patients with Low to Moderately Exuding Wounds: A Case Series. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2014;60(3):30-36. (Funded by Smith+Nephew)
Hudson DA, Adams KG, Van Huyssteen A, Martin R, Huddleston EM. Simplified negative pressure wound therapy: clinical evaluation of an ultraportable, no-canister system. Int Wound J. 2015;12(2):195-201. (Funded by Smith+Nephew)
Saunders C, Nherera LM, Horner A, Trueman P. Single-Use negative-pressure wound therapy versus conventional dressings for closed surgical incisions: systematic literature review and meta-analysis. BJS Open. 2021;0(0):1 - 8. (Funded by Smith+Nephew)
Smith+Nephew April 2018.PICO 7Y - Waterproofness of dressings. Internal Report. DS/18/134/R.
Hurd T, Trueman P, Rossington A. Use of a Portable, Single-use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device in Home Care Patients with Low to Moderately Exuding Wounds: A Case Series. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2014;60(3):30-36. (Funded by Smith+Nephew)
Smith+Nephew 2020.Bacterial barrier testing of the PICO dressing. Internal Report. 2001002.
Smith+Nephew July 2018.PICO 7Y Non-NPWT Wound Model Summary. Internal Report. DS.18.260.R.
Gilchrist B, Robinson M, Jaimes H. Performance, safety, and efficacy of a single use negative pressure wound therapy system for surgically closed incision sites and skin grafts: A prospective multi-centre follow-up study. Paper presented at: SAWC; 2020; Virtual

**Light showering is permissible; however, the PICO pump should be disconnected and placed in a safe location where it will not get wet. The dressing should not be exposed to a direct spray or submerged in water. While disconnected, ensure the end of the tubing attached to the dressing is facing downward so that water does not enter the tube. After showering the PICO 7 pump should be reconnected to the dressing and restarted by pressing the orange button. Always follow the directions for use.

PICO Social Media Campaign References:

Ad 45477-1
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) National Core Maternity Indicators, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed July 2024.
2. Health New Zealand 2024. Report on Maternity Web Tool. Wellington: Health New Zealand. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/report-on-maternity-web-tool/ [Accessed August 2024].
Ad 45477-2:
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) National Core Maternity Indicators, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed July 2024.
2. Health New Zealand 2024. Report on Maternity Web Tool. Wellington: Health New Zealand. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/report-on-maternity-web-tool/ [Accessed August 2024].
Ad 45477-3:
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) National Core Maternity Indicators, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed July 2024.
2. Health New Zealand 2024. Report on Maternity Web Tool. Wellington: Health New Zealand. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/report-on-maternity-web-tool/ [Accessed August 2024].
3. Vallejo MC, Attaallah AF, Shapiro RE, Elzamzamy OM, Mueller MG, Eller WS. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection after cesarean delivery in a rural tertiary care medical center. J Anesth. 2017;31(1):120-126. doi:10.1007/ s00540-016-2266-2
Ad 45477-4:
1. Royle R, Gillespie B, Chaboyer W, Byrnes J, Nghiem S, The burden of surgical site infections in Australia: A cost-of-illness study.Journal of Infection and Public Health. 2023 Mar; 16(5):792-798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2023.03.018.
2. Hyldig N, Vinter CA, Kruse M, et al. Prophylactic incisional negative pressure wound therapy reduces the risk of surgical site infection after caesarean section in obese women: a pragmatic randomised clinical trial. BJOG. 2019 Apr;126(5):628-635.
Ad 45477-5:
1. Hyldig N, Vinter CA, Kruse M, et al. Prophylactic incisional negative pressure wound therapy reduces the risk of surgical site infection after caesarean section in obese women: a pragmatic randomised clinical trial. BJOG. 2019 Apr;126(5):628-635.