wound dehiscence from a surgical perspective
DESCRIPTION
Just a presentation during my resident training. This document provides the extract of the research on wound dehiscence or burst abdomen for over 50 years. It discusses its causes and management.TRANSCRIPT
1 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Wound Dehiscence
(Surgical Perspective)
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2 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Table of ContentsWhat is it?...................................................................................................................................................3
Incidence.....................................................................................................................................................3
Mortality......................................................................................................................................................4
Causes.........................................................................................................................................................4
Frequency of Burst Abdomen by Age and Sex.............................................................................................7
Mechanisms for Wound Dehiscence...........................................................................................................8
Intervals between Day of operation and Bursting of abdomen...................................................................8
Diagnostic Pointer.......................................................................................................................................9
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................................9
Technique of Abdominal Closure...............................................................................................................10
Mathematical Model of Closure................................................................................................................14
Incision Type and Recommendations........................................................................................................16
Risk Score for abdominal wound dehiscence............................................................................................17
Treatment..................................................................................................................................................18
References.................................................................................................................................................22
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3 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Burst Abdomen
What is it?
Also known as abdominal wound dehiscence, wound failure, wound disruption, evisceration and eventration. May be partial or complete.
Wound dehiscence before cutaneous healing is burst abdomen while dehiscence after cutaneous healing is incisional hernia.
Incidence:
The incidence varies in reported series of cases, but it is somewhere between 0.5 and 5%.
The incidence of wound dehiscence/burst abdomen varies from center to another worldwide. While it is recorded to be 1-3 % in most centers
Incidence of wound dehiscence before 1940 (>71000 incisions): 0.24-3.0%
Incidence of wound dehiscence between 1950 and 1984 (>320,000 incisions): 0.24 - 5.8%
Incidence of dehiscence between 1985-1996 (18,133 incisions): 1.2%
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4 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Mortality:
A consistently higher mortality was found in the patients who had burst than in the controls
35% according to studies
Causes:
Preoperative Factors:
(Chronic pulmonary disease) Cough present pre-operatively and post-operatively
Being treated with Corticosteroids
Ascites, Jaundice or Depletion of protein or vitamin C or uraemia
Obesity
Malignant Disease
Peritonitis
Haemoglobin < 11g/dl
Diabetes
Zinc Deficiency
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5 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Nature of Primary - Disease and Operation:
Main groups of operations after which burst abdomens occurred are those on the Gastroduodenum (mainly for peptic ulcer) and Large Bowel
The Operation
Most burst abdomens occur in Upper abdominal incisions and vertical incisions
Almost no burst abdomen occurred in Lower abdomen oblique or transverse incision according to few studies
The inclusion of too little rather than too much of tissue leads to trouble
Using Catgut 11% Dehiscence occurred in one study
Incisions greater than 18 cm
Emergency Operations carry more risk than elective
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6 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Post-Operative Complications:
Cough
Distention
Vomiting
Ascites
Hiccup
Wound Inflammation Infected wounds are significantly weaker than controls almost certainly due to decreased fibroblast concentration and activity
Pancreatic or intestinal digestion of the suture line from a fistula
Ileus
Radiation Therapy
Antineoplastic Therapy: Delay the treatment till 2-3 weeks
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7 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Frequency of Burst Abdomen by Age and Sex:
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Frequency of Burst Abdomen by Age and Sex
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
<30 40 50 60 70
Age
Fre
qu
ency
Male
Female
8 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Mechanisms for Wound Dehiscence: Tearing of sutures through tissues (29%)
Infection (9%)
Broken suture (8%)
Facial necrosis (6%)
Loose knots (4%)
No explanation (44%)
Intervals between Day of operation and Bursting of abdomen:
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Intervals between Day of operation and Bursting of abdomen
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-
Post-operative Day
% B
urs
ts
Male
Female
9 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Mean presentation of abdominal wound dehiscence was at postoperative day 9 (range: 0–32 days), with 90% of all cases presenting before the 15th postoperative day
Diagnostic Pointer:
Appearance of a pink, watery discharge through the wound a week or so after operation. This is blood-tinged peritoneal exudate escaping through the deeper layers of the wound, and its appearance is strong evidence of imminent complete dehiscence. Recognition of the significance of this discharge should make it possible to resuture the abdominal wound before the frightening and potentially dangerous complication of complete rupture is allowed to occur.
Lateral radiograph of the abdomen may confirm the diagnosis by showing bowel shadows very close to the skin of the wound area.
Recommendations: Tension free Single Layered: “Mass Closure” of midline incisions
monofilament nonabsorbable suture
(suture length)SL: WL(wound length) between 4: 1 and 6: 1 with big loose bites gives conditions in the wound so that the effect of 30% wound lengthening leads to a rise in tension of less than 2%
Wide bites of the rectus sheath at least 1 cm from the edge of the incision. Drains are inserted through a separate stab away from the incision and a colostomy or ileostomy is always fashioned through a separate incision
Continous Closure or Interrupted closure
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10 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
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11 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Technique of Abdominal Closure:
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12 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Braided Silk at 70 Days:
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13 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Multifilament Nylon (non-absorbable) at 10 days:
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14 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Braided Silk at 70 days (Non-infected)
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15 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Mathematical Model of Closure:
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16 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Another Similar Mathematical Model:
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17 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Incision Type and Recommendations:
No advantage or disadvantage of a transverse over a vertical abdominal incision or of a paramedian over a median incision could be shown in a study.
When reviewing all data, the transverse incision seems to cause less wound dehiscence than the midline and paramedian incisions, but numbers are too small to speak of an actual trend
Unilateral transverse incision should be the preferred incision for small unilateral operations
Lateral paramedian incision should be used for most major elective laparotomies
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18 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Midline incision limited to emergency surgery in which unlimited access to the entire abdominal cavity is necessary or useful.
Risk Score for abdominal wound dehiscence:
On the basis of risk factors a risk score for abdominal wound dehiscence has been proposed in 2009. This score can be entered into a formula to calculate the probability of developing abdominal wound dehiscence for individual patients
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19 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Treatment:
Non-Operative:
Patient very unstable and there has been no evisceration. Preferably to treat non-operatively:
Guaze packing of the wound or covering it with a sterile occlusive dressing
Abdominal binder may be used to support disrupted abdominal wound
Wound may subsequently contact to closure, or if the patient's condition improves, delayed operative closure may be performed.
Hernia is a common sequela
Operative Treatment:
For most patients immediate re-operation is indicated
Most common technique is immediate resuture with retention sutures
Pre-operative broad spectrum antibiotics should be given
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20 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Technique:
1. Free the omentum and bowel for a short distance on a deep surface of the wound on both sides
2. Insert deep retention sutures, and then proceed with mass closure of the abdominal wall. Be certain to take deep bites of tissues, using plenty of suture material, and avoid excessive tension on the wound.
3. Close the skin fairly loosely and consider using a superficial wound drain.
4. In the presence of gross wound sepsis, leave the skin open and pack
Retention Sutures: Basic Principles:
1. Use heavy non-absorbable suture e.g. No.1 monofilament nylon
2. wide interrupted bites of at least 3cm from the wound edge and a stitch interval of 3cm or less
3. either external (incorporating all layers peritoneum through to skin) or internal (all layers except skin) may be used.
4. Internal retention sutures avoid producing an unsightly ladder-pattern scar, however they are unable to be removed subsequently (increased infection risk) a buttress device is used to prevent suture erosion into the skin e.g. thread each suture through a short length (5-6 cm) of plastic or rubber tubing do not tie too tightly external retention sutures area usually left in for at least 3 weeks
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21 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
The Uncloseable: major abdominal trauma
grosss abdominal sepsis
retroperitoneum hematoma e.g. post ruptured AAA
Loss of abdominal wall tissue e.g. necrotizing fasciitis
attempted closure may lead abdominal compartment syndrome
Options:
Temporarily close abdomen by packing the wound and taking a further look in 24-48 hours.
OR
Mesh closure of the abdomen
The defect is bridged with one or two layers of a prosthetic mesh
The mesh is sutured in place with sutures that penetrate the full thickness of wound
Desirable Result:
Granulation tissue formation ultimately result in a surface that can be covered with a split-skin graft
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22 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
Prosthetic Mesh:
Absorbable mesh (polyglycolic acid eg. Dexon)
temporary closure
good for infected abdomen
subsequent incision hernia inevitable
Polypropylene mesh (eg. Prolene, Marlex):
erosion into bowel and fistula formation
dense adhesion formation
quite tolerant of infection
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) (eg. Goretex):
Soft and pliable
less adhesions to bowel
tolerates infection poorly
Once well enough and intestinal edema has resolved, usually return to operating theatre for attempt at abdominal wall closure
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23 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
References:
1. Hampton J. R., B.M. The Burst Abdomen. British Medical Journal 1963 Oct 1032-35
2. Bucknall T E, Cox P J, Ellis Harold. Burst abdomen and incisional hernia: a prospective study of 1129 major laparotomies. British Medical Journal 1982 284:931-33
3. Ramshorst G. Abdominal Wound Dehiscence in Adults: Development and Validation of a Risk Model. World J Surg 2010 34:20–27 [PMID: 19898894 ]
4. Bucknall T. E. Factors influencing wound complications: A clinical and experimental study. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 1983 65:71-77
5. Lotfy, Wael. Burst Abdomen: Is it a Preventable Complication. Egyptian Journal of Surgery 2009 July 28(3):128-32
6. Carlson MA. Acute Wound Failure. Surgical Clinics of North America 1997 77:607- 636
7. Keill RH, Keitzer WF, Nichols WK, Henzel J and De Weese MS. Abdominal wound dehiscence. Arch Surg 1973 106:573-7
8. Reitamo J., and Moller C. Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica 1972 138:170
9. Alexander, H. C. and Prudden, J. F. The causes of abdominal wound disruption. Surg., Gynec g: Obst. 1966 122:1223-1229
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24 Wound Dehiscence (Surgical Perspective)
10. Goligher, J C, et al. British Journal of Surgery 1975 62:823
11. Standeven, A. Lancet 1955 1:533
12. Haxton, H A. British Journal of Surgery 1963 50:534
13. Spiliotis John. Wound dehiscence: is still a problem in the 21th century: a retrospective study. World Journal of Emergency Surgery. 2009 4:12
14. Kirk R.M. The Incidence of Burst Abdomen: Comparison of Layered Opening and Closing with Straight-through One-layered Closure. Lancet 1972 ii 352
15. Jenkins, T P N. British Journal of Surgery 1976 63:873
16. Dudley HAF. Layered and mass closure of the abdominal wall - a theoretical and experimental analysis. Br J Surg 1970 57:664-7
17. Gupta Himanshu et al. Comparison of Interrupted Versus Continuous Closure in Abdominal Wound Repair: A Meta-analysis of 23 Trials. Asian Journal of Surgery 2008 July 31(3):104 - 114
18. Varshney Subodh, Manekt Parimal, Johnsont CD. Six-fold suture:wound length ratio for abdominal closure. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1999 81:333-336
19. Weiland DE, Bay RC, Del Sordi S. Choosing the Best Abdominal Closure by Meta-analysis. American Journal of Surgery 1998 176:666-670
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20. Hodgson N. C. F., Malthaner R. A. The Search for an Ideal Method of Abdominal Fascial Closure: A Meta-Analysis. Annals of Surgery. 2000 231(3):436–442
21. Varshney Subodh, Manekt Parimal, Johnsont CD. Six-fold suture:wound length ratio for abdominal closure. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1999 81:333-336
22. Cengiz Yucel, Blomquist Peter, Israelsson Leif A. Small Tissue Bites and Wound Strength: An Experimental Study. Arch Surg. 2001 136: 272-275
23. Ellis Harold, Coleridge-Smith Philip D., Joyce Adrian D. Abdominal incisions-vertical or transverse?. Postgraduate Medical Journal 1984 june 60:407-410
24. Burger J. W. A., Riet M. van ‘t, Jeekel J. Abdominal incisions: techniques and postoperative complications. Scandinavian Journal of Surgery. 2002 91:315–321
25. Nagy KK, Fildes JJ, Mahr C, et al. Experience with three Prosthetic Materials in Temporary Abdominal Wall Closure. American Surgeon 1996 62:331-335
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