Effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the prevention of post-operative surgical wound dehiscence in at risk patients following abdominal surgery; a multicentre randomised control trial.

INTERVENTION: Topical negative pressure device, provides a negative pressure at the closed incision site (80mmHg). The device is applied following surgery for a wear time of 14 days. CONDITION: post surgical wound complications PRIMARY OUTCOME: Outcome will be assessed through the following clinical endpoints assessed by 2 independant clinicians ; 1. occurence of surgical wound dehiscence (compared to controls) ; SECONDARY OUTCOME: The secondary outcome of the study is to determine the occurrence of surgical site infection as per the CDC definition. The secondary outcomes will be the following clinical endpoints and measured by 2 independant clinicians; ; 1. Occurence of surgical site infection (superficial or deep) compared to controls INCLUSION CRITERIA: Consenting adults who are undergoing an abdominal surgical procedure that uses a midline laparotomy as the surgical entry.