ABSTRACT
Background: Some of the most common wound complications following laparotomy include hematoma formation, seroma formation, wound infection, burst abdomen and wound dehiscence. Closed-suction drains (CSDs) help to drain any wound collection and also reduce any dead space in the wound thereby promoting healing and preventing complication.Methods: We conducted a prospective study and included patients presenting with acute abdomen in emergency department. Patients were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two groups (group A and B) with equal number of patients were created based on closed envelope technique. CSD was placed in the wound of patients in group A. Wound healing and complications were compared between the two groups.Results: 50 patients were included in the study with 25 in each group. Hematoma formation was found to be significantly more among group B (24.0%) compared to group A (4.0%). Seroma formation (p value =0.03917), SSI rate (p value =0.039) and wound dehiscence/burst abdomen (p value =0.0415) was more in group B than group A. The mean wound healing time (days) and mean hospital stay (days) was significantly more in group B.Conclusions: Placing a subcutaneous vacuum suction drain at the time of abdominal wall closure during emergency laparotomy results in better wound healing and reduces postoperative wound complication, hospital stay time, morbidity and also decreases overall healthcare cost.
ABSTRACT
Background: Traumatic avulsion injury poses severe risk as the overlying protective covering is lost and the raw tissue is exposed to the environment. Avulsion injuries involving the scalp are even more complicated to treat because of significant cosmetic concern involved. Aim of the study was to find a better solution than the existing method, we conducted a prospective study involving 13 patients with isolated traumatic scalp avulsion injury.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Motilal Nehru Medical College and associated Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, Prayagraj, after taking written and informed consents from the patients, between June 2017 and June 2019.These were divided into two groups (A and B) based on whether the underlying periosteum was intact or not.Results: Patients with intact periosteum (Group A) underwent primary thin thickness skin grafting within a few hours of their admission while the other group (Group B) was treated with a traditional conservative approach. We compared the results of both the groups and found that Group A patients not only had satisfactory graft uptake (≥85 TBSA) but also had significant decreased risk of infection, lesser hospital stay, overall decreased healthcare cost, better cosmoses and early return to routine activity.Conclusions: For the surgeon, this single step procedure is safe and technically easy. Thus this approach was found to be superior than the current traditional approach.