Efficacy of strategies intended to prevent surgical site infection after lower limb revascularization surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ann Surg 2023; 278: e447-e456.

There were 26 RCTs including 4752 patients. Twelve strategies were evaluated but only two showed definite benefits: pre-incision antibiotics (four studies) relative risk 0.25, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.11 to 0.57; and negative pressure wound therapy (five studies) – 0.54, 0.38 to 0.78.

Comment: Interesting that negative pressure wound dressing has found a place in vascular surgery, when it has not for many other procedures. Perhaps particularly effective in groin incisions?