A study to compare abdominal wall closure with interrupted vs. continuous sutures using polydioxanone in patients undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy

Background: Wound closure in emergency surgeries can be done either by interrupted or by continuous sutures with each having its own advantages and disadvantages. In this paper we shall try to compare the advantages and adverse effects of both these methods of wound closure. Methods: A prospective comparative study involving 50 patients undergoing emergency laparotomies was conducted in Department of General Surgery, MMIMSR, Mullana from October 2022 to April 2024 (18 months). We compared two abdominal wall closure techniques using polydioxanone (PDS), patients, aged 18-75 years, were alternatively assigned to one of two groups: Group I received interrupted PDS sutures, while Group II received continuous PDS sutures. Postoperatively, pain and complications like infections were observed and analysed statistically. Results: In our study, we compared abdominal wall closure techniques in emergency exploratory laparotomy patients. The mean age was similar in the two groups, 43.68 years vs 43.08 years respectively in group I and II. Wound infection occurred in 44% of patients in the interrupted suture group and 60% in the continuous suture group, with a significant difference favouring the interrupted method. The mean wound closure time (33.24 vs 18.32 minutes) and post operative pain were more in the interrupted suture group as compared to the continuous suture group. Conclusions: The interrupted suturing method proved to be more effective in preventing complications, it did require more time to perform. However, after thoroughly reviewing the available data, no definitive evidence was found to support the superiority of either techniques.