A Survey of Cardiac Surgery Infections with PICO™ Negative Pressure Therapy in High-Risk Patients.

Abstract Background Surgical Site Complications represent a major concern in many surgical specialties, responsible for increased length of stay in hospital and additional treatments and care needed. The investigation herein aims to report survey data from the introduction of the PICO™ system into one hospital in France, involving cardiac surgery procedures via standard median sternotomy. Methods Patients were at high risk of developing surgical site infections (SSI). PICO™ was used immediately post operatively on the closed incision site in all cardiac surgery procedures. Data was compared with a retrospective cohort of patients where PICO™ had not been used post operatively. In total 233 anonymized patient records were reviewed, 142 of which used the PICO™ device and 91 which did not. Results PICO™ was shown to provide both clinical and economic benefits over standard care across a range of different cardiac surgery patients. Complication rates and mediastinitis rates reduced. Conclusions PICO™ was shown to provide both clinical and economic benefits over standard care in the treatment of cardiac surgery patients. Complication rates and Deep Surgical Wound Infections/mediastinitis rates reduced. Cost savings and release of capacity were demonstrated.