RISK FACTORS FOR WOUND DEHISCENCE AFTER LAPAROTOMY: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Background. Wound dehiscence is a life-threatening complication with the mortality rate up to 25 %. The objective of this study is to identify the risk factors for wound dehiscence after midline laparotomy in adult population. Methods. The case control study of patients, operated from January 2012 to May 2016, was performed. Patients, who underwent repeated laparotomy for wound dehiscence, were the cases group. Each case was matched by 3 control group patients undergoing similar primary operation. Following characteristics were observed: demographic, past medical and social history, concomitant diseases, intraoperative details, postoperative outcomes and were compared between the groups. Difference was significant, if p value was less than 0.05. Results. 100 patients were included in the study. There were 25 (25 %) patients of the cases group and 75 (75 %) patient of the control group. The majority of the patients were males (69 %). The mean age was 66.7 ± 10.8 years. Three risk factors were identified in the univariate analysis: male gender (88.0 %), wound infection (56 %) and cardiovascular diseases (88 %) for wound dehiscence with the mortality rate of 20 %. Conclusions. Wound dehiscence is a serious complication with a high mortality rate. The identification of preoperative and early postoperative risk factors may allow preventing and reduce the rate of wound dehiscence.