Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of povidone-iodine on the groin wounds of patients undergoing primary varicose vein surgery. This is a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study on patients undergoing primary saphenofemoral ligation. Patients were randomized to a povidone-iodine (Betadine; Pfizer, West Ryde, Australia)-soaked surgical gauze placed in the open wound or a saline-soaked gauze placed in the wound. Patients were then followed up weekly for 6 weeks to observe for signs of wound infection. Sixty-eight legs in 49 patients were recruited. Thirty-seven groin wounds were randomized to saline and 32 to Betadine. There was a reduced incidence of groin wound infections in those randomized to Betadine (3 versus 1), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.4). Although there may be a trend towards a lower wound infection rate when povidone-iodine is use in surgical wounds, this is not significant for varicose vein surgery.
Published Version
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