Study Shows Efficacy of Dual-Ring Wound Protector in Lowering PD Surgical Site Infection

New clinical evidence demonstrates the value of Applied Medical`s Alexis Wound Protector/retractor in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) procedures, also known as Whipple procedures. A published study showcases a significant reduction in PD surgical site infection (SSI) when the dual-ring Alexis wound protector/retractor was used. The Alexis wound protector/retractor lowered incisional SSI in PD procedures by 52 percent compared to cases that did not utilize a wound protector.

The volume of PD cases has been increasing over the past two decades,1 yet postoperative morbidity remains high, up to 40 percent in high-volume pancreatic centers,2 with a substantial amount resulting from SSI. The risk of incisional SSI is even higher in cases requiring biliary drainage prior to the procedure.1

In addition to reducing incisional SSI in PD procedures, the Alexis wound protector/retractor has been clinically proven to reduce incisional SSI across multiple surgical specialties.3-5 [It`s our company`s mission to make a meaningful, positive difference by enhancing surgical outcomes," said Serene Wachli, president of the Horizon II Division at Applied Medical. [We`re proud to design, develop and manufacture our Alexis wound protectors, which have been shown to be effective in helping reduce SSI in a wide variety of procedures."

The study was a multicenter, parallel, dual-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial that evaluated the efficacy of the Alexis wound protector/retractor to reduce the risk of incisional SSI among patients with a biliary stent undergoing an elective PD. The study compared the use of the dual-ring wound protector to the current standard of care at the Foothills Medical Centre and The Ottawa Hospital in Calgary and Ottawa, Canada, respectively. The Alexis wound protector/retractor group was comprised of 57 patients and the no-wound-protector group was comprised of 50 patients. After observing that the risk of incisional SSI was significantly lower with the use of dual-ring wound protectors, the data safety panel stopped the trial at the first planned interim analysis due to the dramatically positive treatment effect and the understanding of the economic impact associated with addressing incisional SSI occurrence.1

SSI accounts for 20 percent of healthcare-associated infections,6 resulting in approximately $3.5 billion to $10 billion annual healthcare expenditures in the United States.7 Additionally, incisional SSI may lead to increased postoperative pain, poor wound healing and incisional hernias.8-12

Developed and manufactured by Applied Medical, the Alexis wound protector/retractor features a dual-ring design in a wide range of sizes for use within multiple specialties. The Alexis wound protector/retractor features 360-degree protection to help reduce surgical site infection,1, 3-5, 13-14 shield incision sites from bacterial invasion15-16 and maintain moisture to promote healing.17

Applied Medical is dedicated to providing solutions that enhance patient outcomes and enable the advancement of minimally invasive surgery. Applied Medical is committed to being a part of the overall solution to reduce SSI through research, education and awareness. The company has developed stopsurgicalsiteinfection.com as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals to learn more about the prevention of SSI. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Southern California, Applied Medical is a rapidly growing, global organization with approximately 4,000 team members.