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International study shows incisions managed with unique PICO? NPWT System demonstrated significantly fewer healing complications and improved scar quality in bilateral breast reduction patients
[December 17, 2014]

International study shows incisions managed with unique PICO? NPWT System demonstrated significantly fewer healing complications and improved scar quality in bilateral breast reduction patients


Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), global medical technology business, today announces that data from an international, multicentre-study1 presented at the Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast Symposium (Milan, December 10-13, 2014), has shown significantly fewer wound healing complications associated with breast reduction surgery, through the post-operative application of PICO Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). The study, led by Dr Robert Galiano of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA, analysed the effectiveness of PICO in the reduction of post-surgical complications.

PICO Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (Graphic: Business Wire)

PICO Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (Graphic: Business Wire)

200 bilateral breast reduction patients were observed across six leading centres PICO was used as an incision management system and compared to the standard post-operative wound care procedure (surgical strips). The primary analysis shows significantly fewer healing complications for PICO compared to standard care (p<0.004), and a 38% relative reduction in surgical dehiscence from 26.4% to 16.2% (p<0.033).



Scar Quality Improved

The study also evaluated the scar quality at 42 and 90 days post surgery. Both POSAS (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale), and VAS (Visual Analogue scale) scoring systems demonstrated that PICO provided a superior quality scar (p<0.001) over standard of care at 42 and 90 days.


Presenting the findings at Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast, Dr. Risal Djohan, of Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA, said, "This surgical procedure has a high frequency of postoperative complications, particularly in patients overweight or obese, where the percentage ranges from 21.6% to 35%2-5. For a patient group with high expectations6, PICO presents surgeons with an opportunity to reduce surgical incision complications and improve the aesthetic outcome.

Dr. Maurizio Nava, congress president and associated professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Milan, says 'The psychological impact of breast surgery is considerable and often scarring is the primary source of dissatisfaction for 65% of the patients7. Data from clinical investigations into breast surgery, suggest that innovative devices like PICO?, can effectively reduce the incidence of surgical complications and improve the scar appearance, and this is particularly important for high risk patient groups. This is important for breast reduction surgery, but may also have an impact on breast reconstruction and on aesthetic interventions."

Full press pack available at: http://www.smith-nephew.com/news-and-media/news/pico-npwt-breast-reduction-surgery/


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