A Comparative Study of Indigenous Irrigation Device and Conventional Method of Surgical Wound Care for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection

Introduction: Since wound complications increase the morbidity of patient, the task of every surgeon is to take all possible measures to prevent SSI, especially in cases that are at higher risk for getting infected. Wound seromas, hematomas and surgical site infections are the most common complications. A number of methods have been used by surgeons from time to time to reduce these complications. Use of subcutaneous irrigation device in surgical wounds may be one method to reduce infection rates. Only a few studies are available in the literature regarding the role of subcutaneous irrigation device in the prevention of local wound complications. Aim: The aim of study will be a comparative study of Self Designed irrigation device and other conventional methods of surgical wound care for management and prevention of Skin and soft tissue infection in cases of class 3 and 4 abdominal wounds. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of contaminated surgical wound i.e., class 3 and class 4 abdominal wounds that will be admitted in Subharti Medical College and Hospital, Meerut, during the period from Oct 2018 to Sept 2020. Patients will be assessed for eligibility for the study and those who qualify the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be included in the study. Results: As compared to simple irrigation and no irrigation of the Class 3 and Class 4 abdominal wounds irrigation through the self-designed catheter significantly reduced major complications like discharge from wounds, superficial and deep wound dehiscence and better healed suture lines in follow-up. However, there was no difference in the minor complications like bruising and erythema over the suture line. Conclusion: The study is limited by a small sample size that led to a skewed distribution of some parameters amongst the groups which could have had a bias in the analysis. Additionally, the study is limited to class 3 and class 4 wounds of the abdomen only, where the subcutaneous tissue is sign