A Clinical Study of Factors Affecting Healing of Incision Site after Laparotomy

Background: Laparotomy is an incision made into the abdominal wall to visualise and explore the viscera inside of the abdominal cavity. Break in continuity of the skin with or without deeper tissues, following laparotomy, results in abdominal wound dehiscence. This study is done to evaluate the factors affecting healing of incision site of laparotomy. Aims and Objectives: 1. To identify various factors affecting postoperative wound healing.2.To study various wound complications occurring following laparotomy.3. To observe the measures for preventing the wound complications. Material and Methods: This study is a Prospective study conducted on 100 patients who undergoing laparotomy ( both emergency and planned) between June 2020 to January 2022 in General Surgery Department of S.C.L Hospital Ahmedabad. A detailed history was taken from all the patients. Result: In this study the various Factors affecting healing of incision site after laparotomy, which occurred in 100 patients who underwent laparotomy in the Department Of General Surgery S.C.L. Hospital Ahmedabad were analysed. Patients above 15 years were included in this study. Patients aged > 60 years developed more wound complications as compared to patients < 60 years suggesting that increasing age acts as a risk factor. Development of wound complications were more in females compared with male .All patients who had hypoproteinemia ,malnourishment (BMI <18.5) and were on steroid therapy developed more wound complications. 9 out of 11 patients developed complications who had BMI >30 (obese). 7 out of 13 anemic patients developed wound complications. Out of 100 patient, 55 patients had comorbidities (i.e. DM, HTN, IHD, COPD). Conclusion: This study was conducted to study the factors affecting wound healing. Wound healing after laparotomy is influenced by a variety of factors like timing of laparotomy, age, comorbid conditions, malnutrition, obesity, anemia, hypoproteinemia, immunosuppressive states, indication of laparotomy, postoperative abdominal condition, length of hospitalisation. Optimisation of these factors as far as possible will reduce the incidence of wound complications.