COMPARISON OF CLOSURE OF SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE VERSUS NON CLOSURE IN RELATION TO POST CAESAREAN WOUND INFECTION IN OBESE PATIENTS

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate the role of subcutaneous tissue closure in relation to
wound infection after cesarean section in obese patients.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: A randomized controlled trial in a specialist
hospital in Benin City. 232 patients with body mass index greater than
30kg/m2 or weight greater than 90kg were randomized into closure and
non closure group. In 116 patients, subcutaneous tissue was closed
using plain catgut 2-0 while the subcutaneous tissue was not closed in
patients in the non closure group.
RESULTS: Wound infection was found in 24 patients (20.7%) in the
closure group as compared to 35(30.2%) in the non closure group which
was not statistically significant (p value=0.09). Wound dehiscence was
however observed in 14(13.7%) patients in the closure group as
compared to 28(24.2%) in the non closure group which was statistically
significant(p value=0.04). There was no significant difference between
the two groups in terms of post operative fever and anaemia.
CONCLUSION: Closure of subcutaneous tissue during cesarean
delivery in obese women has no significant effect on wound infection but
significantly lowers the risk of wound dehiscence.

COMPARISON OF CLOSURE OF SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE VERSUS NON CLOSURE IN RELATION TO POST CAESAREAN WOUND INFECTION IN OBESE PATIENTS