FREQUENCY OF WOUND DEHISCENCE IN EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY INCISION

Objective: To determine frequency of wound dehiscence after laparotomy done in emergency. Design & Duration: This is a prospective study of observational type. Study was started in July 2019 and completed in December 2019 comprising on six months duration. Setting: This study was conducted in FMH College of medicine and dentistry Lahore. Patients and Methods: patients operated in emergency department during study duration irrespective of age and gender was included in this study. Patients having any malignancy, immune-compromised or taking chemo or radiation therapy were not included in this study. Consent was taken from all cases in this study and permission was also taken from ethical committee. Patients were prepared before surgery and whole baseline and special investigations were done where indicated. Patients were operated for various indications through midline incision and closure of abdominal wall was done in same way using proline-1 continuous stitches in all cases. Demographic data like age, gender, duration of symptoms were noted and means, standard deviation were calculated. Results: There were 100 male and 50 female cases out of total 150 cases. There were 30 cases between 15-25 years, 38 between 25-35 years, 44 between 36-45 years, 28 were between 45-55 years and 10 were above 55 years of age. Wound dehiscence found in 23 cases 15 male and 8 female cases. Causes of laparotomy were typhoid perforation in 40 cases, tuberculous perforation of intestines in 34 cases, perforated appendix in 26 cases and abdominal trauma in 50 cases. Conclusion: Wound dehiscence is much common in our hospitals after emergency laparotomy where which is due to improper closure or increased infection rate in emergency leading to surgical site Infection and wound dehiscence.