Abdominal surgery was associated with an overall wound infection rate of 3.7%, postoperative intraperitoneal sepsis in 1.8% of patients, and an overall mortality rate of 3.2%.
Observational (n=3,056)
What is the frequency of infective complications after abdominal surgery in a 10-year prospective audit?
A 10-year prospective audit of abdominal surgeries demonstrated an overall wound infection rate of 3.7% and highlighted the importance of surgical technique and peroperative antibiotic lavage in preventing infection.
A prospective audit of the frequency of infective complications after all abdominal operations was carried out between January 1977 and December 1986. A total of 3100 abdominal procedures (2041 elective; 1059 emergency) were performed in 3056 patients. There were 50 (1.6 per cent) in-hospital and 66 (2.1 per cent) late wound infections (overall 3.7 per cent). Fifty-four (1.8 per cent) patients developed postoperative intraperitoneal sepsis. Ninety-eight patients died (overall mortality 3.2 per cent) and intraperitoneal sepsis was a related factor in twelve (0.4 per cent). Wound infection, peritoneal sepsis and mortality were related to the degree of operative contamination and to reoperation. The results support the traditional, although sometimes inadequately stressed, teaching that technique is an important factor in preventing infection. Infection is also reduced by peroperative antibiotic lavage. The limited value and the potential difficulties of the unstructured introduction of computerized audit should be recognized.
Krukowski et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Abdominal surgery (n=3,056). Abdominal surgery was evaluated on Infective complications (wound infections and intraperitoneal sepsis) and mortality. Abdominal surgery was associated with an overall wound infection rate of 3.7%, postoperative intraperitoneal sepsis in 1.8% of patients, and an overall mortality rate of 3.2%.