| Abstrakt: |
BACKGROUND:Patients whom underwent abdominal surgeries in both elective and emergency operation theatres in M K C G Medical College Berhampur hospital was included in this prospective study. Patients were assigned to skin sutures/staplers for wound closure and 50 cases were studied in each group (total - 100 cases). Cases were studied from November 2022 - October 2023. The wound was closed by skin staples or sutures. The wound was evaluated after 1 week, 1 month and 3-month interval for infection, swelling, discharge, overlapping of edges, separation of edges, wound dehiscence and scar. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To compare wound infection/discharge 2. To compare wound dehiscence 3. To compare wound cosmesis 4. To compare post operative pain 5. To compare time consumption. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients whom underwent abdominal surgeries in both elective and emergency operation theatres in M K C G Medical College hospital was included in this prospective study. Patients were randomly assigned to skin sutures/staplers for wound closure and 50 cases were studied in each group (total - 100 cases). Cases were studied from November 2022 - October 2023. For all patients, subcutaneous sutures were put to relieve tension, dead space was closed and wound apposed. The wound was closed by skin staples or sutures. The wound was evaluated after 1 week, 1 month and 3-month interval for infection, swelling, discharge, overlapping of edges, separation of edges, wound dehiscence and scar. Photograph of the scar was taken for the evaluation of cosmetic appearance. A senior surgeon, who was unaware of the method of closure, was consulted regarding the appearance of the scar. RESULTS: In our study, 5 patients [10%] in the stapled group and 17 patients [34%] in the sutured group had wound infection/discharge. Mean Wound cosmesis score was 3.5 in stapled group and 2.7 in sutured group. The P value was 0.001 and was statistically significant. The average score for post operative pain was 5.2 in stapled group and 6.8 in the sutured group. The average time required to approximate 1cm of wound was 9.96 seconds with staplers whereas it was 51.66 seconds with sutures. CONCLUSION: Hence, we conclude that skin staplers are superior to sutures for better wound cosmesis, in reducing the post operative pain, wound infection, seroma formation and very much significant in saving time for skin closure. Hence this study recommends the use of skin staplers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
