Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies

Author (et al.)	Year	Country	Study Design	Text Form	Inclusion Criteria	Exclusion Criteria	Sample Size	NPWT Device Used	Quality
Chaboyer	2014	Australia	RCT	Full text	Elective CS Pre-pregnany BMI≥30 Able to provide written informed consent	Urgent or emergent CS Previous participation in trial Existing infection between admission and CS Unable to speak or understand English	87	PICO	High
Mark	2014	USA	RC	Full text	BMI≥45	Not reported	69	KCI	Low
Ruhstaller	2017	USA	RCT	Full text	BMI≥30 ≥4cm dilation at time of CS	Initiation of prenatal care after 23 weeks Pre-existing diabetes, using chronic steroids or immunosuppressants, or active cancer treatment Allergy to silver Scheduled CS or planned vertical skin incision	119	Prevena	High
Swift	2015	USA	Mixed	Full text	Not reported	Not reported	319	Prevena	Low
Tuuli	2017	USA	RCT	Abstract	BMI≥30	Non-availability for post-op follow-up Pre-existing infection at incision site Bleeding disorder or anticoagulation	120	PICO	High
Villers	2017	USA	RC	Abstract	BMI≥40	Not reported	317	Not reported	Low
Hyldig	2016	Denmark	RCT	PhD Thesis	18 years or older Pre-gestational BMI ≥30 Giving birth by planned or emergent CS at one of five trial centers	Non-Danish speakers	535	PICO	High
Heine	2017	USA	RCT	Full text	Female ≥18 years old Able to provide informed consent CS using subcuticular skin closure within the next 42 days Surgical incision able to be covered completely by PIMS BMI≥35 during screening period up to 42 days pre-surgery CDC wound classification of clean or clean contaminated Willing and able to return for all scheduled and required study visits Not enrolled in another	ASA class P4, P5 or P6 Systemic bacterial/fungal infection at time of surgery Remote-site skin infection at time of surgery Life expectancy <12 months Pre-operatively classified to undergo CDC wound classification of contaminated or dirty-infected Intraoperative hemorrhage requiring transfusion, DIC, or other medical condition that makes participant high risk Clinically significant condition that would impair compliance with study procedure Allergy or hypersensitivity to silver or drape materials	82	Prevena	High
Stitely	N/A	USA	RCT	Clinical Trials.gov (NCT0065 4641)	18 years or older Weight >199 lbs Depth of subcutaneous tissue ≥4 cm	Weight ≤199 lbs, or <4cm subQ tissue Inability to give proper informed consent Inability to adhere to follow-up	54	Not reported	Low

Abbreviations: NPWT, negative pressure wound therapy; RCT, randomized controlled trial; RC, retrospective cohort.