Determinants of Postoperative Abdominal Wound Dehiscence among Patients Operated in a Tertiary Hospital

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wound dehiscence is one of the dreadful complications for surgeons in their daily activities.The Objective of this study was to identify determinants of abdominal would dehiscence among patients operated at Saint Paul hospital millennium medical college. METHODS: A Matched case-control study to determine the predictors of abdominal wound dehiscence among operated patients at St. Paul's Hospital conducted. Multivariable logistic regression analysis done to calculate odds ratio and identify independent risk factors for abdominal wound dehiscnece. RESULT: A total of 68 cases and 68 controls were studied. Bivariable analysis revealed Preoperative sepsis, condition at admission, an indication of surgery, post-operative wound infection, and post-operative days of hospitalization as independent risk factor for abdominal wound dehiscence. Multivariable analysis proved the presence of preoperative sepsis and an indication of surgery as an independent risk factor. In-patient mortality was 9 (13.2%) in the dehiscence group. More than 90% of patients with dehiscence stayed more than ten days in hospital, but close to half of the controls stayed less than ten days(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: The presence of postoperative wound infection and an emergency surgical conditions were significant risk factors for an occurrence of postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence. Focused follow-up of postoperative wound infection to identify signs of infection and meticulous implementation of perioperative infection prevention practices would save a lot more in a resource-limited setup.