New comparative wound care study in c-sections, cuts healthcare costs by $728,000 per 1,000 patients

Smith+Nephew, the global medical technology company, has announced findings from a newly published comparative study of single-use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (sNPWT) devices in caesarean section (C-section) recovery.

The study has identified significant benefits for postpartum use of Smith+Nephew’s leading PICO sNPWT technology.

Analysing real-world data from over 10,000 C-section patients treated at different pressure levels, the study published in WOUNDS reveals that PICO sNPWT contributes to a significant reduction in surgical site complications (SSCs), including a reduction in the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), wound dehiscence and seroma, and overall costs, compared to another sNPWT device.

New survey: The real-life burden of C-section complications

A complementary survey of new mothers who have undergone C-sections highlighted the impact of SSCs on both mother and baby:

Mothers with complications reported requiring hospital readmissions:

• Are 5 times more likely to describe their recovery as traumatic
• Over half (55 per cent) reported feeling depressed than those that reported no complications
• Are 5.4 times more likely to be unable to breastfeed
• Two in three mothers (66.3 per cent) reported that their overall C-section recovery impacted their ability to bond with their baby

Dr Tia Welsh, M.D. Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Valley Medical Group and co-author of the study, said: “Postpartum is already a very vulnerable period for mothers, even without complications. SSCs add physical pain, prolonged recoveries, emotional distress, and disrupt critical early bonding with newborns.

“These interruptions carry emotional and practical burdens, increasing the risks of postpartum depression, anxiety, and trauma – costs that can’t be captured in dollars alone.”

Real-world data shows the clinical and economic benefits of using PICO sNPWT in patients undergoing C-section procedures 

The study used real-world evidence from the Premier PINC AI Healthcare Database to analyse outcomes from a geographically diverse mix of community hospitals, teaching hospitals and healthcare systems across the US.

Notable findings include significant reductions with PICO sNPWT, compared to other sNPWT devices in the incidence of:

• Overall SSIs (p=0.018)
• Superficial SSIs (p=0.017)
• Wound dehiscence (p=0.005)
• Seroma formation (p=0.050)
  

Dr Annmarie Vilkins, DO. Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Henry Ford Health, is the study’s lead author.

The researcher said: “We’ve long understood the benefits of NPWT in surgical recovery, but this is the first large-scale study to directly compare different pressure levels in a real-world setting.

“We found that PICO sNPWT showed significantly improved outcomes through optimising pressure, fluid management, and skin adhesion.

“Its unique design helped maintain a high moisture vapor transmission rate supporting an ideal healing environment for recovery, particularly critical for high-risk incisions like C-sections under skin folds, where moisture build up can lead to infection.”

PICO sNPWT is proven to reduce the odds of surgical site infections (SSIs), which could facilitate early mother and baby bonding and positively impacts on the patient’s emotional wellbeing.

Substantial cost savings with PICO sNPWT

Beyond clinical and patient benefits, the study highlighted substantial cost savings associated with PICO sNPWT, estimating a reduction of US $728,220 per 1,000 patients and 3.8 per cent lower mean index admission costs compared to other sNPWT devices.

Rohit Kashyap, President of Advanced Wound Management, Smith+Nephew, said: “SSIs alone are associated with costs exceeding US $900 million annually.

“This latest data shows that NPWT may help improve clinical outcomes, reduce costly readmissions, improve resource efficiency and provide better post-surgical care for the significant number of new mothers who undergo C-section deliveries.”

High-risk C-section births require improved post-surgical care

C-sections account for around 32 per cent of all US births, yet carry a 5-to-20-times higher risk of maternal morbidity than vaginal births.

Post-surgical complication risk is significantly increased by factors such as obesity, diabetes, smoking, and hypertension, with 44.6 per cent of US C-sections considered high risk.

Obesity alone is associated with a 2-to-7-fold higher risk of developing SSIs compared to individuals with lower BMIs.

Complications related to C-sections can lead to increased maternal mortality, prolonged hospital stays and elevated healthcare costs, while also impacting a mother’s ability to bond with her newborn.

Despite this, the Center of Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over 80 per cent of maternal mortalities are preventable.

For more information, please visit: https://www.possiblewithpico.com/pico-obgyn