Antibiotic use in abdominoplasty: prospective analysis of 207 cases

The increasing demand for plastic surgery of the abdomen has also increased the number of complications, some of them very difficult to manage. It has been stated that antibiotics are unquestionably effective in preventing postoperative wound infections. In the present study, we aimed to provide guidelines for the use of prophylactic antibiotics in abdominoplasty operations. A prospective study was planned on 207 patients. Three study groups were formed according to the administration of antibiotics as follows: group 1, no antibiotics; group 2, preoperative antibiotics only; and group 3, both preoperative and postoperative antibiotics. Twenty patients showed bacterial growth in the intraoperative bacterial culture. There was significant difference in the incidence of infection between groups 1 and 2, groups 1 and 3, but there was no difference between groups 2 and 3. In conclusion, we recommend a single preoperative dose of intravenous antibiotic to prevent infection and also secure the patient from antibiotic side effects.