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[Surgical wounds with or without dressings. Prospective comparative study]
1Département de chirurgie, hôpital de la ville aux Cadolles, 2000 Neuchâtel, Suisse. gfmeylan@bluewin.ch
Annales De Chirurgie
|July 13, 2001
Summary
Removing wound dressings after 48 hours poses no increased infection risk for surgical patients. This study found no significant difference in wound infection rates between dressed and undressed surgical wounds, suggesting dressings may be unnecessary.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Site Infection Prevention
- Postoperative Wound Care
Background:
- Postoperative wound management protocols often include wound dressings.
- The necessity and impact of early wound dressing removal on infection risk remain subjects of clinical inquiry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) between early (48 hours) wound dressing removal and leaving dressings intact.
- To identify other potential advantages or disadvantages associated with these two wound care approaches.
Main Methods:
- A randomized study involving 100 patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal procedures (Altemeier class I or II).
- Patients were divided into two groups: one group had wound dressings removed after 48 hours, while the control group's dressings remained in place.
- Infection rates and clinical features were monitored in both groups.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in the incidence of wound infection was observed between the group with early dressing removal and the group with continued dressing.
- Only one infected wound occurred in each of the two study groups.
- Clinical features were comparable across both patient cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Routine wound dressing after 48 hours in clean surgical wounds (class I or II) appears unnecessary.
- Early removal of wound dressings does not increase the risk of surgical site infection and may simplify postoperative care.