The PICO System may help reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) and may help improve healing times as part of a comprehensive clinical protocol.1
In women undergoing C-sections that have any of these high risk factors that could lead to complications, the use of PICO should be considered.
- Smokers
- Comorbidities including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, poor vascular status, immuno-compromised
- Lengthy surgeries
- Emergency procedures
- Etiology of the problem
A recent study showed effects of PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System (sNPWT) use on the incidence of surgical site infections in women with BMI ≥30 kg/m² undergoing C-section
Hyldig N, et al. BJOG (2018)1
Study overview
Open-label, pragmatic randomized study at five centers in Denmark
Who participated in the study?
Pregnant women
undergoing C-section
(elective or emergency)
Pre-pregnancy
BMI ≥30 kg/m²
PICO sNPWT (n=432)
Could stay in place for approximately 5 days*
Standard dressings (n=444)
Could stay in place for ≥24 hours
*PICO dressings have a wear time of up to 7 days, depending on exudate levels
Wound exudate (patient reported)
Relative reduction
(22.4% for PICO sNPWT vs 32.9% for standard dressings; p=0.001)
92 patients had wound exudate with PICO sNPWT (n=410) versus 137 patients with standard dressings (n=417)
Similar results for PICO sNPWT versus standard dressings in:
Health status questionnaires
Visual Analoge Score of 83 vs 82
Key conclusions
>In pregnant women undergoing C-section with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥30 kg/m²:
PICO sNPWT helped to significantly reduce the incidence of SSIs versus standard dressings
Wound exudate was also reduced with PICO sNPWT
Application on a C-section
- 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.