TITLE:
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Closed Continuous Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Managing Deep Sternal Wound Infections after Cardiac Surgery: A Case Series
AUTHORS:
Mahamaden Adam Kery, Hao Cao, Yanzhong He, Yong Liu
KEYWORDS:
Deep Sternal Wound Infection, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, Debridement
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
13,
2026
ABSTRACT: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is an uncommon yet serious postoperative complication, occurring in approximately 0.8% to 8% of patients following cardiac surgery and resulting in considerable morbidity, extended hospitalization, and increased healthcare expenditures. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) as the primary local therapeutic intervention following surgical debridement for the management of DSWI. While utilized as the central local wound management strategy, NPWT was implemented within a multimodal treatment framework that included standard systemic antimicrobial support. A retrospective case series of 15 post-cardiac surgery patients was evaluated, focusing on hospitalization duration, wound healing time, and overall recovery trajectories. Outcomes were further contextualized by comparing them with those reported in the literature for NPWT combined with complex adjunctive procedures, such as flap reconstruction or instillation therapy. The findings demonstrated an average hospital stay of 34.26 days; among the 14 patients who achieved complete wound healing, the median recovery time was approximately one month. The implications of this study are twofold. Clinically, the results suggest that NPWT, when applied as the foundational local therapy after adequate debridement, contributes to shorter hospital stays and more rapid wound recovery, potentially serving as an effective bridge to closure that minimizes the need for more invasive reconstructive surgeries. Economically, the observed reduction in hospitalization and secondary intervention rates suggests that the integration of NPWT into standard DSWI protocols may lower overall treatment-related costs. Ultimately, these findings support the inclusion of NPWT within comprehensive, multidisciplinary DSWI treatment algorithms, providing clinicians with a viable strategy to optimize patient-centered outcomes in cardiac postoperative care.