Pelvic Floor Reconstruction Using Biological Mesh With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Following Extralevator Abdominoperineal Excision

Perineal wound healing is a significant challenge after extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) due to a high rate of wound breakdown. And it was proved that neoadjuvant radiotherapy significantly increases perineal wound problems after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer. Negative pressure therapy has proven benefits in open wounds, and recently a negative pressure system has been developed for use on closed wounds at high risk of breakdown. A systematic review suggested a significant decrease in perineal wound complications when using incisional negative pressure wound therapy was demonstrated, with surgical site infection rates as low as 9% (vs 41% in control groups). The review suggested that incisional negative pressure wound therapy decreases perineal wound complications after abdominoperineal resection. Prospective study also suggested that after ELAPE the application of a negative pressure system to the perineal wound closed with biologic mesh may reduce perineal wound complications. The aim of the present study was to determine whether negative pressure therapy combined with biological mesh compared with biological mesh alone after ELAPE could improve wound healing.