Comparison Between the Effect of Prophylactic Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Vs Standard Wound Dressing on Surgical-Site Infection in Obese Women After Cesarean Delivery

Background: Around the world, caesarean sections (CS) are the most prevalent obstetrical procedures. Several factors have contributed to the increase in caesarean section rates in recent years. About one-third of women in their reproductive years, in both industrialised and developing nations, suffer from obesity, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of standard wound dressing (SWD) against preventive negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in preventing surgical-site infections (SSIs) in obese women following caesarean birth. Patients and methods: From August 2023 through September 2024, 60 obese patients undergoing caesarean deliveries and using preventive NPWT or SWD to lower infection risk were the subjects of this prospective observational study at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics at Al-Hussein University Hospital. Two groups of patients were formed: Prophylactic NPWT was performed on 30 obese women in Group A. Group B: SWD was performed on 30 women who were obese. Results: In terms of surgical site infection rates, there were no statistically significant differences between the NPWT and SWD groups (P=1). The incidence of surgical site infection did not differ significantly (P=1) between the PNPWT and SWD groups. Conclusion: No significant advantages of PNPWT over SWD in terms of SSI rates, wound complications, or pain scores in obese women undergoing cesarean delivery. While PNPWT was associated with significantly higher costs, these findings must be interpreted cautiously, given the study's limitations.