PICO sNPWT Significantly Reduces C-Section Complications, Lowers Cost, Study Finds

A single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) device developed by Smith+Nephew significantly reduced postsurgical complications, including infections, wound separation, and seroma compared with another sNPWT system, according to a study.1

The retrospective cohort study, published in WOUNDS, also highlights meaningful cost savings and improved emotional and physical recovery outcomes for new mothers, particularly those at high risk.

“Postpartum is already a very vulnerable period for mothers, even without complications,” said study coauthor, Tia Welsh, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology, Valley Medical Group, in a statement. "SSCs [surgical site complications] 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.”

A new single-use device reduces surgical site infections, improves recovery, and lowers costs after Cesarean deliveries. Image credit: Mediteraneo-stock.adobe.com

The study utilized patient data encompassing inpatient claims from a geographically diverse mix of US community and teaching hospitals between January 2017 and June 2022.2 Adult patients undergoing Cesarean (C-section) deliveries were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Procedure Coding System codes and hospital billing charge descriptions for sNPWT devices set at either −80 mm Hg or −125 mm Hg. Patients treated with both devices and those with preexisting surgical site complications (SSCs), open wounds, multiple surgeries within 30 days, or inadequate follow-up were excluded.

Primary outcomes included incidence of SSCs at 30 and 90 days, as well as health care resource utilization metrics such as length of stay and cost.

The study revealed that Smith+Nephew’s PICO sNPWT device was associated with significantly better clinical outcomes and lower health care costs for patients recovering from C-sections compared with another sNPWT device.1 Real-world data from over 10,000 patients who underwent C-section showed that use of PICO sNPWT led to statistically significant reductions in overall surgical site infections (SSIs) (P = .018), superficial SSIs (P = .017), wound dehiscence (P = .005), and seroma formation (P = .050).

Complementing these clinical findings, a patient survey highlighted the broader human impact of postsurgical complications. Mothers who experienced SSCs were 5-times more likely to describe their recovery as traumatic, over 50% reported depression, and they were 5.4 times more likely to struggle with breastfeeding. Furthermore, 66.3% said their complications negatively affected bonding with their newborn.

“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,” said the study’s lead author Annmarie Vilkins, DO, director of obstetrics and gynecology, Henry Ford Health, in a statement. “We found that PICO sNPWT showed significantly improved outcomes through optimizing 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 buildup can lead to infection.”

In addition to clinical advantages, the study demonstrated that use of the PICO sNPWT device offered significant economic value. Compared with another sNPWT device, PICO was associated with a 3.8% reduction in mean index admission costs and an estimated cost savings of $728,220 per 1000 patients (P < .001). These savings are particularly meaningful given that SSIs alone contribute to more than $900 million in health care costs annually.

References

1. A comparative sNPWT study of 10,000+ C-sections shows PICO sNPWT reduces complications and cuts healthcare costs by $728,000 per 1000 patients. News release. Smith+Nephew UK Ltd; May 14, 2025. Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/05/14/3081117/0/en/A-comparative-sNPWT-study-of-10-000-C-sections-shows-PICO-sNPWT-reduces-complications-and-cuts-healthcare-costs-by-728-000-per-1-000-patients.html

2. Vilkins A, Nherera A, Searle R, Welsh T. Comparison of the effectiveness of two prophylactic single-use negative pressure wound therapy devices in reducing surgical site complications after cesarean delivery: Insights from a large US claims database. WOUNDS. 2025;37(4):152-157. doi:10.25270/wnds/24183