Surgical Wound Infections after Vascular Surgery: Prospective Multicenter Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: this multicenter prospective observational study defined the incidence and risk factors of surgical wound infections (Swi) after infrarenal aortic and lower limb vascular surgery procedures and evaluated the severity and costs of these infections.Methods: the study cohort comprised of 184 consecutive patients. postoperative complications were recorded. the additional costs attributable to Swi were calculated.Results: eighty-four (46%) patients had critical ischaemia, 81 (45%) patients underwent infrainguinal bypass surgery and 64 (35%) received vascular prosthesis or prosthetic patch. forty-nine (27%) patients developed Swi. Staphylococcus aureus was the leading pathogen cultured from the wound. forty-seven of the 49 infected wounds responded to and healed with the treatment. Swi was the cause of one major amputation. independent predictors for Swi were infrainguinal surgery (or 7.2, 95% cl 2.92-17.65, p < 0.001), obesity (or 6.1, 95% cl 2.44-15.16, p < 0.001) and arteriography injection site within the operative area (or 2.5, 95% cl 1.13-5.48, p = 0.02). the average cost attributable to Swi was 3320 €.Conclusion: the incidence of Swi after vascular surgery is high. the risk factors for Swi are infrainguinal surgery, obesity and arteriography injection site within the operative area. Swi increases morbidity and costs of operative treatment.

Evidence update on prevention of surgical site infection

“…It has been suggested that the true prevalence of SSI is underestimated, depending on surgical specialty, accepted and validated definitions and the comprehensiveness of postoperative surveillance [8][9] . When close post-discharge surveillance is included, particularly with the involvement of unbiased, trained and validated observers, SSIs have been reported to complicate 10-20% of surgical operations indicating that there is widespread underestimation of SSI rates across all classes of surgery [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] .…”

Treatment Procedures in Vascular Prosthetic Graft Infections

“…[10][11][12] Çalışmamızdaki tüm olguların enfeksiyon kaynağı hakkında tam bir bilgiye sahip değiliz. Çünkü bu 13 olguluk seride kliniğimizde yapılan operasyon sonrası enfeksiyon gelişen olgu sayısı yalnızca üçtür.…”

Evaluation of the Swedish adjustable gastric band VC (SAGB-VC) in an Australian population: early results

“…7 Port site infection is a persistent problem for patients with an adjustable gastric band, despite perioperative antibiotics and application of standard measures of antisepsis before, during and after surgery. Obesity is associated with a greater chance of wound infection, 8 and the insertion of foreign material, such as an injection port, provides a nidus for the infection. Whereas wound infection is a major impediment for the patient, it has not been a life-threatening complication; in all but 2 patients the infections were treated using local measures.…”