Surgery Wound Research Articles

First Experience with the NPseal®: A Novel Mechanically Powered Negative Pressure Dressing Applied to Colorectal Surgery Wounds.

The use of prophylactic closed-incisional negative pressure wound therapy after colorectal procedures has been shown to reduce postoperative wound complications and surgical site infection. We present our experience with a novel, closed-incision, mechanically powered negative pressure (MP-NPD) dressing after colorectal procedures. This was a prospective, single-center, single-arm observational study assessing patient reported and wound healing outcomes of colorectal surgical incisions dressed with a MP-NPD. Consecutive patients, 18years and older, that met inclusion criteria were enrolled between May 2021 and December 2021. Thirty patients were included (13 male/17 female) with a mean age of 62.7 ± 11.8years and mean body mass index of 25.5 ± 4.4kg/m2. The mean incision length covered was 3.0 ± 1.8cm. The median number of manual pinches required to initially activate the dressing with negative pressure within -75 to -125mmHg was 12 (range 7-20). Four dressings were changed (13.3%) after drainage was noted inside the pump; not including these, 88.5% (23/26) of dressings held pressure consistently without any re-pinching during the 72-h period since they were first applied in the operating room. 75.9% of patients reported the dressing was "very comfortable" and none reported the dressing restricted mobility. 79.3% of patients reported the dressing was "very easy" to use. There were no cases of major wound complication or surgical site infection within 30days. The use of MP-NPD appears to be feasible on primarily-closed colorectal incisions. Further randomized controlled study is warranted to ascertain its clinical efficacy.

A retrospective comparison of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for elective hand surgery wound closures

BackgroundSuture selection in elective hand surgery closures has traditionally been non-absorbable sutures (NAS) rather than absorbable sutures (AS). The goal of this study was to evaluate absorbable versus non-absorbable closures of various primary elective hand procedures. Our group hypothesized that no differences in major short-term outcomes would exist. MethodsA retrospective review of 867 patients was conducted. Patients were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes specific to surgical cases from forearm to fingertip. Patients undergoing emergent trauma operations or debridement for infection were excluded. Two experimental groups were evaluated: one in which surgical wound closures were performed with non-absorbable suture (nylon) vs one in which closures were performed with absorbable suture (monocryl). Outcomes measured were wound dehiscence, need for postoperative antibiotics, 30-day general complications, and reoperations within 60 days. ResultsA total of 867 patients were investigated in this study. The AS cohort consisted of 455 patients whereas the NAS group contained 412. No significant differences were noted between the AS and NAS groups with regards to age, gender, or diabetes. Postoperatively, there was no significant difference in rates of dehiscence, infections, or antibiotic prescription. Furthermore, rates of 30-day complications (1.36 % vs 1.47 %; p = 1.000), 60-day complications (0.68 % vs 2.19 %; p = 0.113) and reoperation (1.13 % versus 1.46 %; p = 0.903) were similar between the AS and NAS cohorts. ConclusionWound closure in hand surgery using absorbable suture appears to have comparable outcomes with non-absorbable suture. Level of evidence3.

Ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block for surgical anesthesia in wound care patients with ongoing anticoagulant/antiaggregant therapy: A single-center, prospective study.

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks may be a good alternative in patients under antithrombotic drugs. We evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block in patients undergoing lower extremity wound debridement of whom antithrombotic drugs could not be stopped. We focused on hemorrhagic complications related to sciatic nerve block. Wound care patients followed by Cardiovascular Surgery Department scheduled for lower extremity wound surgery were included in this prospective observational study. Data was collected between March 2021 and September 2022. All patient were under antithrombotic therapy and discontinuation of anticoagulant drugs were not possible. Single-insertion and multiple-injection sciatic nerve block at popliteal region was applied to all patients under ultrasound guidance. Primary outcome was the rate of hemorrhage. Secondary outcomes were block onset times, block success and postoperative analgesia times. Data of 105 patients was evaluated, 87 were male and 18 were female. Mean patient age was 61.92 ± 10.06, mean patient body mass index was 25.68 ± 6.33. All patients were under 1 or more antithrombotic drugs. Only one minor hematoma was detected by postoperative ultrasonography control in 1 patient. Hemorrhage complication rate was 1 of 105 (% 0.95, 95% CI, 0.00024-0.051). Overall block success rate was 99.05%. Mean block onset time was 16.27 ± 5.69 minutes. Mean postoperative analgesia time was 19.5 ± 11.22 hours. Sciatic nerve block under ultrasound guidance using in-plane technique was safe and provided sufficient surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for lower extremity wound debridement surgery in patients on antithrombotic drugs.

Does the use of topical vancomycin during primary hip or knee arthroplasty protect from infections?

BackgroundInfection is one of the main complications of hip and knee arthroplasties. Topical application vancomycin to prevent postoperative infections is efficient in spine surgery, and is spreading in prosthetic surgery. However, its clinical relevance and safety are still under debate. Thus, we conducted the present study to (1) assess whether topical vancomycin reduces peri-prosthetic infection rate, and (2) investigate its influence on surgical wound complications. HypothesisOur hypothesis was that topical administration of diluted vancomycin during arthroplasty would reduce infection rate within the first postoperative year. Material and methodsIn total, 1900 hip and knee arthroplasties were performed between 2014 and 2021 in a single hospital. From July 2018 and December 2021, 910 prostheses were implanted with intra-articular instillation of vancomycin and tranexamic acid. From November 2014 to June 2018, 990 prostheses were set up without vancomycin. During a follow-up of minimum 12 months, we reported periprosthetic infections occurring during the first postoperative year, as well as vancomycin-induced general or cutaneous complications. ResultsWe observed periprosthetic infections in 9/990 cases (0.91%) of the control group and 10/910 cases (1.1%) of the vancomycin group (p = 0.82). In parallel, we observed wound complications (erythema, seroma, hematoma, dehiscence and delay in wound healing) in 19/990 (1.9%) and 10/910 cases (1.1%) of the control and vancomycin group, respectively (p = 0.19). There were no general complications resulting from the application of vancomycin. DiscussionTopical diluted vancomycin does not reduce periprosthetic infection risk, and has no effect on the occurrence of surgery wound complications. Considering the present findings, the use of vancomycin cannot be recommended in current practice to prevent infections following hip and knee arthroplasties. Finally, its use does not induce any specific complications, whether local (cicatrisation) or general (related to ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity). Level of evidenceIII; case control study.

Trends in Top Surgery Patient Characteristics, Wound Complications, and CPT Code Use by Plastic Surgeons: A Decade-Long Analysis.

Gender-affirming top surgery is becoming increasingly common, with greater diversity in the patients receiving top surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in patient demographics, characteristics, wound complication rates, and concurrent procedures in patients receiving gender-affirming top surgeries. Patients with gender dysphoria who underwent breast procedures, including mastectomy, mastopexy, breast augmentation, or breast reduction by a plastic surgeon between 2013 and 2022, were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. These procedures were considered to be gender-affirming "top surgery." Univariate analyses were performed to examine trend changes in the patient population and types of additional procedures performed over the last decade. There was a 38-fold increase in the number of patients who received top surgery during the most recent years compared to the first 2 years of the decade. Significantly more individuals receiving top surgery in recent years were nonbinary ( P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in percentage of active smokers ( P < 0.01) while there was an increase in percentage of patients with diabetes ( P = 0.03). While there was a significant increase in the number of obese patients receiving top surgery ( P < 0.01), there were no differences in postoperative wound complications between the years. Significantly more patients received additional procedures ( P < 0.01) and had about a 9-fold increase in distinct number of additional CPT codes from 2013-2014 to 2021-2022. Our study found that there has been (1) a significant increase in the number of top surgery patients from 2013 to 2022 overall and (2) a particular increase in patients with preoperative comorbidities, such as a higher body mass index and diabetes. Understanding current and evolving trends in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gender dysphoria can inform individualized care plans that best serve the needs of patients and optimize overall outcomes.

Ten years’ experience of vacuum systems in treatment of complicated postoperative wounds of various etiologies

Objective: increase effectiveness of wounds treatment after various etiology by using VAC.Materials and methods: study included 128 patients with surgical infection. Specter of operations is presented: pilonidal cyst excision — 40 (31.2%), sternomediastinitis — 23 (18%), mesh hernioplasty — 16 (12.5%), laparotomy — 15 (11.7%), emergency laparotomy — 7 (5.5%), traumatology paraimplant complications — 7 (5.5%), abdominoplasty — 7 (5.5%), postoperative esophageal fistulas — 6 (4.7%), decubital ulcers — 4 (3.1%), mammoplasty — 3 (2.3%).Results: duration of VAC-therapy averaged 22.1±0.26 days. Systemic inflammatory reaction noted in 43 (33.6%) patients. Granulation tissue on 8th day of treatment noted in 98 (76.6%) cases. Microscopically, on day 8 of treatment, inflammatory-regenerative cytograms were detected in 104 (81.3%) patients. Over the course of 16 days, wounds decreased by 62.1±2.5% in all observations. In 47 (36.7%) cases, secondary sutures were applied, in 30 (23.4%) — grafting. A month later, healing was noted in 106 (82.8%) patients. Complications (wound bleeding) were noted in 7 (5.5%) patients. Reoperations were performed in 11 (8.5%) patients. Period of complete healing was 29.3±0.4 days.Conclusions: vacuum therapy is an effective way to treat wounds in purulent surgery. Time of complete reparative regeneration of wound and period of expensive inpatient treatment are reduced.

Prophylactic Antibiotic Choice and Deep Infection in Lower Extremity Endoprosthetic Reconstruction: Comparison of Cefazolin, Cefazolin-Vancomycin, and Alternative Regimens.

Infection is a common mode of failure in lower extremity endoprostheses. The Prophylactic Antibiotic Regimens in Tumor Surgery trial reported that 5 days of cefazolin had no difference in surgical site infection compared with 24 hours of cefazolin. Our purpose was to evaluate infection rates of patients receiving perioperative cefazolin monotherapy, cefazolin-vancomycin dual therapy, or alternative antibiotic regimens. A single-center retrospective review was conducted on patients who received lower extremity endoprostheses from 2008 to 2021 with minimum 1-year follow-up. Three prophylactic antibiotic regimen groups were compared: cefazolin monotherapy, cefazolin-vancomycin dual therapy, and alternative regimens. The primary outcome was deep infection, defined by a sinus tract, positive culture, or clinical diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were revision surgery, microorganisms isolated, and superficial wound issues. The overall deep infection rate was 10% (30/294) at the median final follow-up of 3.0 years (IQR 1.7 to 5.4). The deep infection rates in the cefazolin, cefazolin-vancomycin, and alternative regimen groups were 8% (6/72), 10% (18/179), and 14% (6/43), respectively ( P = 0.625). Patients not receiving cefazolin had an 18% deep infection rate (6/34) and 21% revision surgery rate (7/34) compared with a 9% deep infection rate (24/260) ( P = 0.13) and 12% revision surgery rate (31/260) ( P = 0.17) in patients receiving cefazolin. In those not receiving cefazolin, 88% (30/34) were due to a documented penicillin allergy, only two being anaphylaxis. All six patients in the alternative regimen group who developed deep infections did not receive cefazolin secondary to nonanaphylactic penicillin allergy. The addition of perioperative vancomycin to cefazolin in lower extremity endoprosthetic reconstructions was not associated with a lower deep infection rate. Patients who did not receive cefazolin trended toward higher rates of deep infection and revision surgery, although not statistically significant. The most common reason for not receiving cefazolin was a nonanaphylactic penicillin allergy, highlighting the continued practice of foregoing cefazolin unnecessarily.

The Effect of Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Medications on Wide-Awake Hand Surgery: An Analysis of 2,162 Cases

The purpose of the study was to determine if perioperative prescription anticoagulant (AC) or antiplatelet (AP) medication use increases the rate of revision surgeries or complications following wide-awake hand surgery performed under local anesthesia. All patients who underwent outpatient wide-awake hand surgery under local anesthesia without a tourniquet by two fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeons at a single academic practice over a 3-year period were included. Prescription history was reviewed to determine if any prescriptions were filled for an AC/AP drug within 90 days of surgery. All cases requiring revision were identified. Office notes were reviewed to determine postoperative complications and/or postoperative antibiotics prescribed for infection concerns. The number of revisions, complications, and postoperative antibiotic prescriptions were compared between patients who did, and did not, use perioperative AC/AP drugs. A total of 2,162 wide-awake local anesthesia surgeries were included, and there were 128 cases (5.9%) with perioperative AC/AP use. Of the 2,162 cases, 19 cases required revision surgery (18 without AC/AP use and one with AC/AP use). Postoperative wound complications occurred in 42 patients (38 without AC/AP use and four with AC/AP use). Of the wound complications, four were related to postoperative bleeding, one case of incisional bleeding, and three cases of incisional hematomas (three without AC/AP use and one with AC/AP use). None of these patients required additional intervention; their incisional bleeding or hematoma was resolved by their subsequent office visit. Sixty-five patients received postoperative antibiotics for infection concerns (59 without AC/AP use and six with AC/AP use). Prescription AC/AP medication use in the perioperative period for wide-awake hand surgery performed under local anesthesia was not associated with an increased risk for revision surgery or postoperative wound complications. This study demonstrates the safety of continuing patients' prescribed AC/AP medications during wide-awake hand surgery. Prognosis IV.

The role of reconstructive surgery in chronic wounds. The diabetic wound

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Modified Radiological Union Score of Tibia (RUST) Scores in Diaphyseal Fractures Treated by the Ilizarov Frame: A Retrospective Analysis Evaluating Reliability.

Introduction The number of cases of tibia diaphyseal fractures treated by Ilizarov fixation is increasing. Fractures with infective etiology and altered bone biology due to the requirement of revision surgery or open wounds, which are often treated by the Ilizarov method, have challenges in ascertaining radiological signs of union. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the application of the modified Radiological Union Score of Tibia (m-RUST) scores in the assessment of fracture union in patients operated by the Ilizarov method. The secondary aim is to assess the interobserver and intraobserver variability of the m-RUST score validated by orthopaedicians and radiologists. Methodology A total of 119 patients who were treated with an Ilizarov fixator from February 2017 to December 2023 were included in the study. Four observers (two orthopaedicians and two radiologists) independently applied the m-RUST score for the included patients. Clinical data were not disclosed to the observers who worked independently of each other. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the reliability of the m-RUST score. Interobserver reliability was measured by examining the scores of four observers from the second assessment, and intra-observer variability was assessed by a repeat evaluation after two weeks following the first assessment. Results The m-RUST score of the 119 X-rays analysed ranged from 8 to 16. The mean score in the first assessment was 11.36±3.51, and in the second assessment was 11.42±3.39. The reliability between all the observers was "substantial agreement" (ICC: 0.74, 95% CI). The ICC among the orthopaedicians was 0.77 and that among the radiologists was 0.72. Conclusion The m-RUST score has potential in other long bone fractures such as femur or humerus. Assessment of the m-RUST score in the healing of infective sequel and bone grafting conditions has been found effective. The m-RUST score is a dependable score in evaluating union in tibia fractures treated by the Ilizarov frame.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Management: a Clinical Case Study

Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare (0.4 cases per 100,000 population) but very severe pathology with a mortality rate up to 10%. The paper presents a clinical case of successful management of necrotizing soft tissue infection of the right arm, lateral wall of the chest and abdomen. The dynamics of the wound process was controlled by clinical, bacteriological, X-ray and ultrasound examinations. The cause of necrotizing soft tissue infection in this patient was the associated anaerobic nonclostridial and aerobic flora. Numerous surgical interventions were used to manage the patient; they were aimed at the excision of the necrotic tissue at the start of treatment, plastic surgery of postoperative wounds with local tissues was used at the end of treatment. The progression of the necrotic process was stopped after the third intervention. In addition to surgical treatment, the patient received antibacterial, detoxification, and immunostimulating therapy. Despite numerous staged surgeries with the excision of the necrotic skin, subcutaneous fat and fascia, it was possible to completely restore the patient’s ability to work.

A Comparison between 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate and Conventional Suturing for the Closure of Epiblepharon Incision Wounds in Children: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: Tissue adhesive has been widely used in ophthalmic surgery for various procedures, proving both effective and safe. However, no studies have compared the surgical efficacy of the tissue adhesive 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (SurgiSeal®) to that of traditional suture closure in Asian children undergoing surgery for lower lid epiblepharon. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective case-control study. Surgical correction for epiblepharon was performed on 22 patients from November 2019 to May 2023. A total of 20 patients who were followed up for at least 1 month were included for analysis. After standardized epiblepharon surgery, group A underwent wound closure with a subcuticular suture and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and group B underwent closure with a 6-O fast-absorbing surgical gut suture. Patients were followed up at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-surgery. Results: A total of 10 patients (20 eyes) underwent skin closure with tissue adhesives (group A), and 10 patients (18 eyes) underwent wound closure using conventional suture material (group B). No significant differences in the sex ratio, mean age at operation, pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), or average surgical time were observed between groups. Both groups exhibited improved postoperative BCVA, with symptom relief and a significant decrease in the severity of keratopathy after surgery. Neither recurrence nor complications were reported during follow-up. The aesthetic results were similar between groups, while caregivers of children in the tissue adhesive group expressed high satisfaction regarding the ease of postoperative care. Conclusions: Successful closure of lower lid epiblepharon surgery wounds in children can be performed using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (SurgiSeal®). This method is simple, safe, and effective when compared to conventional sutures.

The Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Wound Infection: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to summarize the currently available evidence on the effect of oral probiotic therapy on infected wound healing among patients who underwent surgery. An electronic search was conducted for articles published during 2010- 2022 in Embase, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the keywords "probiotics," "prebiotics," "synbiotics," and "wound infection." The titles and abstracts of 2625 articles were screened, and 22 publications that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. The current review provides evidence of the beneficial effects of probiotics on wound infection, significantly reducing the duration of antibiotic usage and the length of hospital stay for patients, with no serious side effects reported. Wound infections following various surgeries, such as abdominal wound surgery, colorectal cancer resection, periampullary neoplasms treatment, liver and bile duct resection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, esophagostomy, dental wound surgery, plastic surgery, and burns, are shown to be positively affected by probiotic usage. Although, in some cases, the improvements were not statistically significant, overall, the administration of probiotics appears to be satisfactory in this regard. Probiotics demonstrate the ability to prevent the growth of pathogens and maintain wound space sterility by recruiting M2 macrophages, which produce anti-inflammatory markers and enhance the activity of phagocytic cells. Additionally, probiotics can reduce bacterial translocation from their niche to other areas and inhibit the production of bacterial mediators that lead to bacterial invasion.

Mobilisasi Dini dan Proses Penyembuhan Luka Post Operasi Abdominal Pada Fase Inflamasi

Background: Abdominal surgery is a type of surgical operation performed on the abdominal area by making an incision in the lining of the abdominal wall to get parts of problematic organs such as bleeding, perforation, cancer, and obstruction. The incisions made during abdominal surgery cause large wounds and require a long recovery time and constant care, and are at risk of complications. The problem that often occurs in post-abdominal surgery patients is the lack of patient behavior to carry out early mobilization. Early mobilization is a series of light post-operative activities, starting from moving on the bed to being able to get out of bed, walk to the toilet, and get out of the toilet. Purpose: To determine the relationship between early mobilization and the wound healing process after abdominal surgery in the inflammatory phase. Methods: The quantitative research used a cross-sectional study method in the Surgical Ward of Meuraxa Hospital, Banda Aceh City from March 23 to May 20 2023. Data collected by interviewing and observe 30 postoperative patients who were selected according to the inclusion criteria and data analyzed by Chi-square test. Results: The results of the chi-square statistical test with CL=95% and α=0.05 showed a p-value of 0.032. This p value is &lt;0.05, which means there is a significant relationship between early mobilization and the healing process of post-abdominal surgery wounds in the inflammatory phase. Conclusion: There is a relationship between early mobilization and the healing process of post-abdominal surgery wounds in the inflammatory phase.

Supportive Care Needs of Patients With Temporary Ostomy in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a global surgical quality improvement initiative, reduces the length of stay in the hospital. Temporary stoma care for rectal cancer is complex, and patients require prolonged care services to adjust to the stoma. The shorter stay durations in the new model challenge the conventional care pathways and create new patient needs. This study was designed to explore the supportive care needs of patients under the new surgical model to provide a reference for the design of ERAS nursing care plans. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used in this study. Patients with temporary stomas for rectal cancer were recruited using a convenience sampling method in gastrointestinal surgery wards and wound & stoma clinics in two public tertiary care hospitals in China. Standardized questionnaires were administered to 140 patients to collect quantitative data, and semistructured interviews were conducted individually with 13 patients to collect qualitative data. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. "Health system and information needs" and "care and support needs" were identified in both the qualitative and quantitative analyses as the most significant unmet needs of the participants. In addition, the qualitative analysis identified receiving focused stoma care instructions and easily understandable information as essential to fulfilling health system and information needs. Care and support needs included access to continued postdischarge services and attention from medical professionals. The participants in this study experienced a variety of unmet supportive care needs under the ERAS protocol, with gaps particularly notable in two categories: "health system and information needs" and "care and support needs." Increased perioperative care and shorter hospital stays under the ERAS protocol reduce opportunities for patients to receive targeted instruction and shift much of the ostomy education and care workload out of the hospital, requiring greater attention from clinical nurses to ensure quality of care.

Real-world application of Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection scores in peripheral arterial disease patients

ObjectiveThe Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system aims to risk stratify patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), predicting both amputation rates and the need for revascularization. However, real-world use of the system and whether it predicts outcomes accurately after open revascularization and peripheral interventions is unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine the adoption of the WIfI classification system within a contemporary statewide collaborative as well as the impact of patient factor, and WIfI risk assessment on short- and long-term outcomes. MethodsUsing data from a large statewide collaborative, we identified patients with CLTI undergoing open surgical revascularization or peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) between 2016 and 2022. The primary exposure was preoperative clinical WIfI stage. Patients were categorized according to the SVS Lower Extremity Threatened Limb Classification System into clinical WIfI stages 1, 2, 3, or 4. The primary outcomes were 30-day and 1-year amputation and mortality rates. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the association of WIfI stage on postrevascularization outcomes. ResultsIn the cohort of 17,417 patients, 83.4% (n = 14,529) had WIfI stage documented. PVIs were performed on 57.6% of patients, and 42.4% underwent an open surgical revascularization. Of the patients, 49.5% were classified as stage 1, 19.3% stage 2, 12.8% stage 3, and 18.3% of patients met stage 4 criteria. Stage 3 and 4 patients had higher rates of diabetes, congestive heart failure, and renal failure, and were less likely to be current or former smokers. One-half of stage 3 patients underwent open surgical revascularization, whereas stage 1 patients were most likely to have received a PVI (64%). As WIfI stage increased from 1 to 4, 1-year mortality increased from 12% to 21% (P < .001), 30-day amputation rates increased from 5% to 38% (P < .001), and 1-year amputation rates increased from 15% to 55% (P < .001). Finally, patients who did not have WIfI scores classified had significantly higher 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, as well as higher 30-day and 1-year amputation rates. ConclusionsThe SVS WIfI clinical stage is significantly associated with 1-year amputation rates in patients with CLTI after lower extremity revascularization. Because nearly 55% of stage 4 patients require a major amputation within 1 year of intervention, this finding study supports use of the WIfI classification system in clinical decision-making for patients with CLTI.

Abstract PO5-22-11: Radiotherapy-associated Complications in Breast Cancer patients treated with Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Results of the Reconstruction-after-Mastectomy AGO R02 Registry

Abstract Nipple-Sparing mastectomy (NSM) followed by implant-based breast reconstruction is an oncologically safe procedure increasingly used in patients with breast cancer. A proportion of patients treated with NSM will be receiving adjuvant radiotherapy according to contributing factors indicating radiotherapy use. Methods Data from six breast centers in Austria were entered in the AGO R02 Registry from women who underwent breast reconstruction after mastectomy between 2012 and 2022 to evaluate complications associated with surgical techniques and selection of patients. Univariate analysis was used to identify factors that may impact surgical outcome. Results The registry included a total of 744 female patients. Of 913 NSMs, 730 NSMs were followed by implant-based reconstruction. Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered in 132/730 patients (18%). In this group minor complications (infection, hematoma) were observed in 6 patients (4.5%) and major complications requiring additional surgery (wound breakdown, skin and/or nipple necrosis) were observed in 16 patients (12.1%) in a short term follow up of 4 months (mean). In the group of patients without adjuvant radiotherapy minor complications (infection, hematoma) were observed in 33 patients (4.5%) and major complications (wound breakdown, skin and/or nipple necrosis) were observed in 75 patients (10.3%). In both groups no statistically significant association was observed between complications and age, body mass index, diabetes, preoperative chemotherapy, implant position (pre/subpectoral), use of mesh. Smoking and chemotherapy were the only factors associated with higher proportion of minor complications in patients not receiving radiotherapy. Conclusions Women treated with adjuvant radiotherapy after NSM followed by implant-based reconstruction have a higher incidence of major complications requiring additional surgery in comparison with women treated without radiotherapy in a short term follow up. Considering new radiotherapy techniques/volumes and early multidisciplinary planning may optimize multimodal treatment in these patients. Supported by AGO Österreich Citation Format: Florentia Peintinger, Elisa Sieghartsleitner, Bernhard Pfeifer, Gunda Pristauz-Telsnigg, Georg Tsangarakis, Rüdiger Hochstätter, Rupert Koller, Ursula Denison, Christopher Hager, Roland Reitsamer. Radiotherapy-associated Complications in Breast Cancer patients treated with Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Results of the Reconstruction-after-Mastectomy AGO R02 Registry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-22-11.

Management of post-Mohs surgical wounds with a hypothermically stored amniotic membrane: a case series.

The aim of this case series is to present an alternative approach to managing post-Mohs Micrographic Surgery (Mohs) wounds with hypothermically stored amniotic membrane (HSAM). A case series of patients with post-Mohs wounds is presented, with four patients referred for hard-to-heal wounds following a Mohs procedure that was performed 1-3 months previously. All wounds underwent weekly assessment, debridement, and application of HSAM and secondary dressings. Treatment also included management of bioburden, proper skin care and compression therapy for lower extremity wounds. This case series of seven wounds consisted of four females and three males with a mean age of 87.6 years. Mean wound size at first application of HSAM was 1.34±1.20cm2. All wounds closed, with an average time to wound closure of 43.7±27.1 days. Patients received an average of 4.6±2.5 HSAM applications. The four post-Mohs wounds with a history of being hard-to-heal had an average time to wound closure of 35.5±16.3 days, with an average duration of 86.5±32.4 days prior to the first HSAM application. The results of this case series suggest that use of HSAM may provide an alternative approach to managing post-Mohs wounds. In addition, these findings suggest that HSAM may be of greatest benefit when applied early after Mohs surgery.

Role of Prophylactic Negative Pressure Dressings in Determining the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) on Closed Laparotomy Wounds in Abdominal Surgery: Randomized Controlled Open Label Trial: Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) Trial in a Tertiary Care Setup

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to pose a significant challenge in postoperative care, particularly in abdominal surgeries, due to their prevalence and the associated increase in morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and aseptic measures, the incidence of SSIs remains high, underscoring the need for innovative preventive strategies. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) dressings compared to standard dressing methods in reducing the incidence of surgical site infections in patients undergoing closed laparotomy wounds in abdominal surgeries. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over six months at Civil Hospital Karachi, involving 116 patients undergoing abdominal surgeries. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the VAC dressing or standard dressing postoperatively. The primary outcome measured was the incidence of SSIs within 30 days post-surgery, evaluated using the CDC classification and Southampton wound grading system. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, employing descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Chi-square tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results: The VAC group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of SSIs (13.8%) compared to the non-VAC group (96.6%), with statistical significance (p &lt; 0.001). Age and BMI showed significant differences between the groups; patients in the VAC group were younger (mean age 30.84 ± 10.71 years) and had a lower BMI (mean 19.69 ± 4.16 kg/m²) compared to the non-VAC group (mean age 37.31 ± 12.83 years, mean BMI 22.07 ± 4.41 kg/m²). The duration of surgery and length of incision did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: The use of vacuum-assisted closure dressings significantly reduces the incidence of surgical site infections in abdominal surgery patients, offering a superior alternative to standard dressings. This method not only enhances patient outcomes but could also lead to a reduction in healthcare costs by minimizing complications associated with SSIs.

Modern Principles of Treatment of Purulent Wounds of Soft Tissue (Literature Review)

Discusses the treatment of purulent wounds in experimental and clinical surgery. Traditional methods of treatment often turn out to be ineffective and there is a need to improve them and develop new methods and means. Today there are many methods to improve the results of treatment of purulent wounds, but none of the methods completely satisfies surgeons and the very fact of the numerous proposed methods indicates their insufficient effectiveness and the lack of a common point of view on this problem. The main thing in the treatment of purulent processes is the timely and wide opening of ulcers and their subsequent rational drainage, which helps reduce the absorption of decay products of microbes and tissues, toxins, limit the process and speedy rejection of necrotic tissue. In the general structure of surgical diseases, surgical infection is observed in 35-45% of patients. This is due to the increasing number of patients with purulent wounds and the difficulty in choosing treatment tactics.