It's time to challenge surgical dogma with evidence-based data

Wound complication among different skin closure techniques in the emergency cesarean section: a randomized control trial

Objective

Cesarean section is the most commonly performed obstetrical surgical procedure; however, there are no standard guidelines on appropriate skin closure techniques and materials. Only few comparative studies have been conducted on different skin closure techniques, and they have shown conflicting results. Therefore, we compared different skin closure techniques during emergency cesarean section to identify the best technique with minimal wound complication rates.

Methods

Patients were randomized into 3 groups (group A, n=100; group B, n=102; and group C, n=98). In group A, the skin was closed using staples; in group B, via the subcuticular technique using monocryl 3-0; and in group C, using mattress suture nylon (2-0). The primary outcome was a composite of wound complications, including infection, seroma, gaping, and need for resuturing and antibiotic administration. The secondary outcome included closure time, pain perception, patient satisfaction, and cost. Analyses were performed in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle.

Results

The composite wound complication rate in the entire cohort was 16.6% (n=50); the complication rate was significantly higher in group A than in the other groups. Infection was the most common wound complication observed in the entire study group (86%) and was significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P≤0.001).

Conclusion

The use of staples for cesarean section skin closure is associated with an increased risk of wound complications and prolonged hospital stay postoperative visits.

[Approaches to the abdominal cavity and closure of the abdominal wall]

Although minimally invasive approaches to the abdominal cavity are becoming increasingly more important, open surgical techniques are still of essential interest and must be mastered by general and visceral surgeons. The choice of the particular approach depends on the specificity and location of the scheduled procedure. The following article is intended to give an overview on the current literature as well as experiences in the field of open surgical approaches to the abdominal cavity.

Adhesive strips for the closure of surgical incisional sites: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The authors evaluated the available evidence regarding the use of adhesive strips for the management of surgical incisions and compared them with sutures and other closure materials. Study design. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

RESULTS

Twelve RCTs studying 1317 incisions in 1023 patients were included. No difference was found regarding the development of infection (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47; 95% Confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-1.85), dehiscence (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 0.32-4.64), and overall cosmetic result (standardized mean difference = 0.01; 95% CI = -0.19 to 0.20). Closure with strips resulted in significantly lower incidence of redness (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.37-0.89). The available data on pain, need for resuturing, swelling, patient satisfaction, and closure time with the use of strips could not be synthesized; however, regarding the latter 2 outcomes, application of strips seemed favorable. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that adhesive strips may be an efficient closure material for certain small-length incisions. Further research is warranted on outcomes such as dehiscence and the need for resuturing.

Closure vs non-closure of peritoneum at caesarean section: evaluation of pain

We evaluated the effect of closure or non-closure of parietal and visceral peritoneum during caesarean section (CS) on post-caesarean pain and analgesic requirement. A total of 94 primigravidas planned for elective CS were prospectively enrolled into closure (n = 46) and non-closure (n = 48) groups. Analgesia was provided by a patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA) postoperatively. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS). Total dose of analgesics administered through PCA and times of analgesia demand and additional analgesics were also assessed. VAS and VRS scores were similar between the groups. The total dose of analgesics administered were similar (p = 0.095) between groups, however the mean number of analgesic demand (p = 0.020) and the additional analgesics (p < 0.001) were higher in the closure group. As a conclusion, the closure or non-closure of the peritoneum does not have any impact on postoperative pain intensity, however the analgesia demand and additional analgesia requirement decreases with non-closure.

Six Sigma tympanostomy tube insertion: Achieving the highest safety levels during residency training

Objective

To evaluate a protocol designed to avoid complications during tympanostomy tube insertion by residents.

Design

Ten-year consecutive cases series by a single surgeon supervising residents.

Setting

Tertiary children's hospital.

Patients

Children 6 weeks to 21 years.

Intervention

Residents followed a defined protocol for tube insertion. A resident operated until the tube was placed or he/she committed one major or two minor errors.

Main Outcome Measures

Incidence of 1) major complications: profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), injury to major vascular structures, or disruption of the ossicular chain; and 2) minor complications: tube loss into the middle ear, tympanic membrane tears, or tube occlusion by blood clot.

Results

There were no major complications in 10,000 tube insertions. Two children had unilateral profound SNHL; both were found to have Mondini malformations. Five tubes were recovered from the middle ear. Eight tympanic membrane tears healed with gelatin patches. Three tubes were occluded by blood clots.

Conclusion

By following a defined protocol, major complications of a common operation can be reduced to the five-sigma level and minor complications minimized.

Is inferior dissection of the rectus sheath necessary during Pfannenstiel incision for lower segment Caesarean section? A randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine the benefit of non-dissection of the rectus sheath inferiorly in a Pfannenstiel incision during an elective Caesarean section with regard to operative blood loss and post-operative pain.

DESIGN

A randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

The Royal Free Teaching Hospital in London.

POPULATION

One hundred and twenty women who underwent elective Caesarean section delivery.

METHOD

Women were randomised to have dissection or non-dissection of the rectus sheath inferiorly during an elective Caesarean section.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Estimated blood loss during the operation, as well as the difference between pre- and post-operative haemoglobin levels. Post-operative pain was assessed by the visual analogue scale, a verbal rating scale and the use of post-operative analgesia. Patient satisfaction was assessed by a verbal rating scale.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the estimated blood loss during the procedure between the two groups; however, the mean difference between the pre-operative and post-operative haemoglobin was significantly smaller in the study group (p=0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in both the visual analogue scale (p-value=0.03) and the verbal rating scale scores (p-value=0.02) for pain between the two groups, with lower scores for the study group. There was no overall difference in the verbal rating scale scores for patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Non-dissection of the rectus sheath inferiorly in Pfannenstiel incisions during Caesarean section procedures is associated with a significant reduction in the post-operative pain as well as a smaller drop in post-operative haemoglobin.

A six-year study of surgical teaching and skills evaluation for obstetric/gynecologic residents in porcine and inanimate surgical models

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to evaluate an ongoing teaching and objective surgical skills testing program for obstetric/gynecologic residents in a laboratory setting, and assess the impact on residents of having 4 years of a surgical laboratory curriculum.

STUDY DESIGN

From 1997 through 2002, we conducted surgical skills training sessions for all obstetric/gynecologic residents, using both inanimate and animal (porcine) models. Once a year we tested each resident on 12 structured surgical bench tasks. At the end of each year, we conducted formal objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) with all residents attempting multiple surgical procedures. We compared residents who had 4 years of laboratory training with those who started residency earlier and had only 1 or 2 years of the new curriculum. We also compared residents' own performance from year to year and cohort performance by resident year.

RESULTS

PGY3 and PGY4s who had 4 years of surgical laboratory training did significantly better on bench laboratory skills than PGY3 and PGY4s with fewer years of training sessions (total scores of 48.8 vs 30.3, P < .001). However, no significant improvement in surgical procedures as measured by global OSATS was found. When comparing residents' own performance between the beginning and the end of 1 year, global OSATS scores improved significantly on laparoscopic salpingotomy (P < .001) and open oophorectomy (P < .001). For the cohort of PGY4s completing 4 years of laboratory training, average global OSATS scores showed statistically significant improvement (PGY1, PGY2 < PGY3 < PGY4, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Residents who completed the 4-year curriculum showed significantly better technical skills on bench tasks but not on OSATS compared with those with less training. Resident surgical skills evaluated by OSATS significantly improve over time both individually and as a cohort by resident year.

Interrupted or continuous slowly absorbable sutures - design of a multi-centre randomised trial to evaluate abdominal closure techniques INSECT-trial [ISRCTN24023541]

BACKGROUND

The closure of the abdomen after median laparotomy is still a matter of debate among surgeons. Further well designed and performed randomised controlled trials determining the optimal method of abdominal fascial closure are needed.

DESIGN

This is a three armed, multi-centre, intra-operatively randomised, controlled, patient blinded trial. Over 20 surgical departments will enrol 600 patients who are planned for an elective primary abdominal operation. The objective of this study is to compare the frequency of abdominal incisional hernias between two continuous suture techniques with different, slowly absorbable monofilament materials and an interrupted suture using an absorbable braided suture material at one year postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

This trial will answer the question whether the continuous abdominal wall closure with a slowly absorbable material with longitudinal elasticity is superior to the continuous suture with a material lacking elasticity and to interrupted sutures with braided thread.

Evidence-based surgery

Patient Safety Leading Article Series, 2004 Continuing the Journal's ‘Patient Safety’ series, Ubblink and Legemate remind readers that only 24 per cent of surgery is based on evidence from randomized clinical trials. Expert opinion, intuition and the tradition of experience are fallible.