Local vs Systemic Antibiotics to Decrease Wound Complications following Vertical Banded Gastroplasty: Results of a...

BACKGROUND: Obesity is generally regarded as one factor predisposing to wound infection. Most reports of infection rates range from I to 16% for similar procedures. In our department the wound infection rate for morbidly obese patients was 12% without perioperative antibiotics. METHODS: In a prospective randomized study we compared local gentamicin-collagen fleece application in the subcutaneous layer with patients receiving a perioperative single I.V. dose of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 2.2 g. We examined the results of different perioperative management of antibiotics on 50 morbidly obese patients who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty from March 1993 to August 1994. The fascial, subcutaneous and skin closure technique were identical in the two groups. For both groups we used a closed-suction system to drain the bottom of the deep subcutaneous layer. On the third postoperative day, the subcutaneous drains were removed. Patients stayed in hospital an average of 10 days. They had follow-up visits after 1, 3 and 6 months, and then yearly. RESULTS: None of the 50 patients developed a wound infection, hematoma, or seroma in the hospital. During the follow-up (median 6 months), no patient developed a wound abscess. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that perioperative antibiotic management is an important factor in obtaining a low infection rate.