Holistic patient assessment remains central to informing wound management plans, despite the nature and origin of the wound. As with any other type of wound, the management of surgical wounds is multifaceted, with both intrinsic and extrinsic factors needing to be addressed to achieve wound healing. In addition to the challenges these pose to the wound healing process, surgical wounds are at risk of dehiscing and overgranulation. Advances in research and technology have resulted in an increase in the use of disposable topical negative pressure devices in the community to manage surgical wounds (Khanbhai et al, 2012; Hudson et al, 2015), which has demonstrated positive patient outcomes in most studies (World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2016).