Publication:

A prospective comparative study of efficacy of pulse jet irrigation and conventional irrigation techniques in prevention of surgical site infections in laparotomy wounds

Background Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are infections of tissues, organs or spaces exposed by surgeons during performance of an invasive procedure and continue to be a major source of morbidity following operative procedures. Wound irrigation is the steady flow of a solution across an open wound surface meant to remove cellular debris and surface pathogens contained in wound exudates or residue from topically applied wound care products.

Methods This prospective comparative study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of Pressurized Pulse Irrigation (PPI) and Standard Irrigation Technique (SIT) in laparotomy wounds. Duration of the study was for a period of 12 months and included 100 consecutive patients undergoing laparotomy.

Results 13% of patients who underwent laparotomy had SSI out of which 9 patients had superficial infection only. 8% of 50 patients who had PPI developed SSI, whereas 18% of those who underwent SIT had SSI. Though PPI had less incidence of SSI, statistically it was insignificant.

Conclusions The study showed a decrease in the incidence of postoperative SSI in both elective and emergency laparotomy wounds irrigated with PPI compared to SIT, though the study was statistically insignificant since the p value was less than 0.005 with a odds ratio of 2.52. The study results suggested that there was decrease in the incidence of SSI in PPI patients and also that it decreases the postoperative stay, morbidity and cost.