Subcutaneous fat thickness as a risk factor for surgical site infection following open appendectomy

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency. Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major cause of morbidity after appendectomy. Obesity is one of the risk factors for the occurrence of SSI. Subcutaneous fat thickness (SCFT) and Body mass index are markers for obesity. SCFT is easily readable and non-invasive marker and helps to predict the adiposity of the incision site. This study aims to find the association of SCFT with the occurrence of SSI in patients undergoing open appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis.

This is a prospective study is patients undergoing emergency open appendectomy. The study was conducted from June 2022 to May 2023. Preoperative SCFT at McBurney's point was measured by ultrasonography in 150 patients and these patients were followed up till 1 month in the post-operative period to watch for the occurrence of SSI. The data was analyzed using EPI-INFO 7 and EZR.

Our study included a total of 150 patients. Most of the patients fell in the age group of 20-30 years. The male population was slightly higher than the female. SSI occurred in 24% of the population. Out of these, 21.3% were superficial type and 2.67% were deep type of SSI. The logistic regression of the risk factors showed that SCFT (P-value = 0.001) was significantly associated with SSI. Another risk factor, BMI was also significantly associated with SSI.

This study concludes that SCFT is a risk factor for the occurrence of SSI after emergency open appendectomy in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis.