Negative pressure therapy with closed incision in radical mastectomy for the prevention of complications at the surgical site

The general objective: To evaluate the efficacy of closed-incision negative pressure therapy in patients with radical mastectomy for the prevention of complications at the surgical site in the Autonomous Service of the Central Hospital of Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela, during the 2023-2024 study period. Materials and Methods: A clinical-epidemiological study of experimental, prospective and longitudinal design was carried out. The population consisted of 40 patients undergoing radical mastectomy, from which a sample of 30 patients was selected, divided into two groups: Group A (vacuum therapy) with 15 patients and Group B (traditional treatment) with 15 patients. Variables such as age, sex, comorbidities, degree of risk of complication, side effects, and complications at the surgical site at 2, 7, and 14 days postoperatively were evaluated. Chi-square and Fisher Exacta tests were used for categorical comparisons, with an alpha significance level <0.05. Results: The mean age was 55.33 years in Group A and 60.67 years in Group B. All patients were women. There were no significant differences in comorbidities, except in the presence of cancer (60.00% in Group A vs. 93.33% in Group B, p = 0.0400) and low weight (20.00% in Group A vs. 0.00% in Group B, p = 0.0238). The degree of risk of complication was higher in Group B (100% in grade III) compared to Group A (73.33% in grade III). The incidence of wound dehiscence at 14 days was significantly lower in Group A (0.00% vs. 26.67%, p = 0.0498), as was the incidence of seroma (6.67% in Group A vs. 46.67% in Group B, p = 0.0175). Conclusion: No significant differences were observed in hematoma and infection. Closed-incision negative pressure therapy is effective in reducing postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical mastectomy, especially in decreasing wound dehiscence and seroma. These findings suggest that this therapy may be a viable and beneficial option in clinical practice to improve postoperative outcomes and patients quality of life. Its implementation, staff training and additional studies are recommended to confirm these benefits and evaluate their cost-effectiveness.