Smith+Nephew, the FTSE 100 medical technology company, has announced the publication of a new German expert consensus establishing the first risk-stratified clinical guidelines for single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) on closed surgical incisions.
The guidance, published in the peer-reviewed surgical journal Die Chirurgie and supported by Smith+Nephew, identifies sNPWT as a preventive intervention for patients at elevated risk of postoperative complications, including those with obesity, diabetes, a history of smoking, or procedures involving prolonged surgical duration or revision surgery.
The consensus sets a defined treatment boundary, recommending sNPWT for wounds with an anticipated exudate volume of up to 300 ml per week, giving clinicians a practical threshold for patient selection.
Smith+Nephew's PICO 7 device, a canister-free, lightweight sNPWT system, is positioned as compatible with these pathways for both inpatient and outpatient use.
The company said the guidance translates existing clinical evidence into real-world recommendations for the first time in Germany, addressing postoperative wound complications and surgical site infections, which it described as a persistent challenge in surgical care.
