Incisional Complications

Question 1

What did Kilcoyne 2019 (JAVMA) conclude about stent dressings in recovery from ex-lap GA?

Answer 1

1. Placement of a sterile towel (group 1) or a PHMB-impregnated protective dressing (group 2) secured w sutures was associated with sig lower odds of incisional infection and hernia development vs those that had sterile gauze placed over the wound and secured with an iodine-impregnated adhesive drape (group 3); all of the latter fell off in recovery
2. Overall incisional infection rate 11/75 = 15%
3. 2/50 (4%) became infected in groups 1 and 2 vs 9/25 (36%) in group 3 - 18x more likely to get incisional infection in gr 3
4. Grounds for recommending any sterile dressing sutured onto the incision for GA recovery which should ideally be removed within 48hr (longer can incr risk as per Mair and Smith 2005)