Johnson & Johnson MedTech (J&J MedTech) has joined top surgeons worldwide to create a standardised classification system for the evaluation of surgical site outcomes (SSOs).
According to the company, wound complications, including infections, bleeding, wound re-openings, and fluid collections are a burden for patients and healthcare systems worldwide.
Despite complications in perioperative care, post-operative wound outcomes are underreported, and currently, there is no global standard for defining and monitoring.
Experts in the healthcare field are looking for a standardised approach for surgeons and wound care teams, which could help prevent complications.
J&J MedTech said that its efforts build on its more than 135 years of experience in surgery and significant work in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs).
Johnson & Johnson MedTech wound closure and healing and biosurgery president Nisha Johnson said: “We know firsthand the impact that surgical complications can have on patient outcomes and the overall cost of care globally.
“The industry is calling for consistent definitions, standard solutions that improve outcomes, and a comprehensive approach to reporting and data collection that helps advance healing and improve the surgery experience for patients.”
According to the company, complications at the surgical wound site are the most common adverse events in hospitalised patients, accounting for over 25% of surgical readmissions.
SSIs are not only common, but are dangerous and expensive, and are often the focus of wound complication reporting, making up around 31% of all hospital-acquired infections.
However, SSIs are still underreported due to inadequate and inconsistent identification methods in the health systems and often relate to other post-surgical wound complications.
J&J MedTech said that expanding surveillance to other complications beyond SSIs could help care teams to more consistently capture and report wound complications.
Its polyphonic digital ecosystem is designed to connect data across top surgical technologies, robotics, and surgical software, said the company.
With the Polyphonic ecosystem, J&J MedTech aims to explore patient monitoring based on new, standard reporting guidelines as determined in SSO classification.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech digital vice president Shan Jegatheeswaran said: “Digital is a bridge to getting patients more involved in their surgical care.
“Digital solutions connecting surgical teams and patients can be used to encourage more reporting, better wound care management, and increased patient engagement.
“In the future, these kinds of standard classification systems have the potential to enable more personalised models before, during, and after surgery.”
