PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the necessity of suturing subcutaneous fat tissue in elective abdominal surgery. METHODS: 415 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were admitted to the trial. The patients were divided into two basic groups according to wound contamination: clean operations (n = 201) and clean-contaminated operation (n = 214). Subcutaneous suturing of the subcutaneous fat tissue was performed in half of the patients in each group, determined using the envelope method ('Suture Yes' or 'Suture No'). Wounds were checked on postoperative days 3, 7, 14, and 30. Infectious and non-infectious wound complications were charted in the records. Data were statistically analyzed. The percentages of complications in groups with and without subcutaneous suturing were statistically compared using Yates' corrected chi(2) two-tailed test. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant group differences in infectious and non-infectious wound complications. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that omission of subcutaneous fat tissue suturing does not increase the occurrence of infectious or non-infectious wound complications. (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Department of Field Surgery Faculty of Military Health Sciences University of Defence Hradec Kralove Czech Republic