In patients undergoing emergency laparotomy, incisional negative pressure wound therapy (INPWT) significantly decreases the risk of surgical site infections (SSI) compared to standard dressings.

• INPWT is linked to lower odds of overall SSI (OR 0.36), superficial and deep infections, and seroma formation.
• Hospital length of stay was reduced by about 1.5 days with INPWT (MD -1.49), although wound dehiscence results were less certain.

Despite concerns about higher follow-up mortality associated with INPWT, this was not confirmed in randomized controlled trials. Surgeons may consider INPWT in the emergency setting to improve outcomes related to SSI and recovery time.