Prospective Comparative Study Of Complications Of Laparotomy Wound In Elective And Emergency Surgery

Abstract

Background: Postoperative wound complications are of common occurrence. The incidence of postoperative wound infections ranging from <2% to 38%. Based on NNIS (National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance)system reports, surgical site infections are the third most frequently reported nosocomial infections among hospitalized patient1. Aim is to compare the complications of laparotomy wound in elective and emergency surgery and to study the various determinants affecting it. Materials And Methods: It is a prospective randomized study of 72 patients undergoing emergency and elective laparotomy. Postoperative wound complications and various factors effecting it are compared between emergency and elective surgery. Results: The study was conducted on 72 patients, aged between 13-80 years, who underwent major elective and emergency laparotomy surgery in Shri B.M. Patil Medical College ,Hospital and Research Centre Bijapur, between the period October 2008 - May 2010. Among the 72 patients, 5 (14%) out of 36 patients were in elective laparotomy and 9 (25%) out of 36 patients were in emergency laparotomy who developed complications. x Conclusion: In conclusion, laparotomy wound complications are multifactorial, This study demonstrated no significant increase in incidence of postoperative tissue and wound complications in emergency(25%) and elective surgery(14%) p=0.08. It mainly depends on higher ASA score ,anemia and higher wound class who are more likely to be associated with development of wound complications.