A retrospective study evaluating silver-impregnated dressings on cesarean wound healing

This retrospective study was designed to assess the effectiveness of silver-impregnated dressings in reducing postoperative wound care visits.

A retrospective chart review of 72 patients was conducted to compare the effectiveness of silver-impregnated dressings with traditional wound dressings in reducing additional postoperative visits associated with surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing cesarean delivery: Prior to October 1, 2009, incisions of 36 women were covered with gauze pads. Subsequent to that date, Silverlon dressings (Cura Surgical, Geneva, Illinois) were applied to the wounds of the remaining 36 women.

Two patients whose incisions were covered with a gauze pad and 2 patients who received the silver-impregnated dressings developed an SSI requiring additional wound care visits. Silver-impregnated dressings did not significantly reduce the rate of wound care-related postoperative visits, but the experimental group had a higher rate of comorbidities.

Although there was no observed difference in the number of women requiring additional wound care visits, the significantly greater number of comorbidities noted in the silver-impregnated dressing group should have theoretically placed them at increased risk for SSIs and additional postoperative wound care visits, suggesting that silver-impregnated dressings may have more of a protective effect than is appreciated in this study. A randomized prospective study is planned to further assess its usefulness in decreasing the incidence of wound infections along with its potential benefits regarding wound appearance.