This literature review evaluates the evidence for use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) over closed surgical incisions to reduce wound complications. Wounds that fail to heal post-operatively due to infection, haematoma, seroma or dehiscence can delay a patient’s recovery and in the most serious cases, lead to mortality. Patients with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes or peripheral vascular disease are at an increased risk of wound breakdown post-operatively, with wound management presenting a major challenge. The results of this review indicate that NPWT, when placed at the point of surgical wound closure, has the potential to reduce surgical wound complications in individuals at high risk of impaired healing.