Mardan Medical Complex Mardan

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Frequency of abdominal wound dehiscence and role of wound infection as a major causative factor Mukhtiar Ali, Saeeda, Muhammad Israr, Hafiz Niamat-ullah

Abstract: Objectives: To find the frequency of abdominal wound dehiscence and establish the role of wound infection as a major causative factor in patients undergoing elective or emergency laparotomy. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study, conducted in the department of Surgery Mardan Medical Complex and Teaching Hospital Mardan. Study duration was 12 months. Sampling technique was Consecutive (Non Probability) sampling. All male and female patients above 18 years age who underwent diagnostic or therapeutic laparotomy were included in the study. A pre-operative workup included history taking, thorough clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations. Patients undergoing elective or emergency laparotomy were prospectively followed for development of wound infection and any event of wound dehiscence noted. Results: Male to female ratio was 1.45:1. Mean age affected was 38.40 years. 144 (81.4%) patients were operated in emergency while 33 (18.6%) cases were operated electively. Out of 177 patients, abdominal wound dehiscence was seen in 26 (14.7%) patients. Overall 32 (18.1%) patients developed wound infection. All of the patients having wound dehiscence had wound infection. Presence of wound dehiscence was found significantly high (p=