Postoperative wound infection after total abdominal hysterectomy: a controlled study of the increased duration of hospital stay and trends in postoperative wound infection.
BACKGROUND
Total abdominal hysterectomy, a common operative procedure, is infrequently accompanied by incisional wound infection. No recent study has examined the excess hospital stay attributable to such infections.


METHODS
This historical cohort study of cases and matched controls was performed in a tertiary care university hospital.


RESULTS
During the 5-year study period (1985 to 1989), the infection rate was 10.5 per 100 procedures; patients with infection remained hospitalized 3.55 days longer than did matched control patients (p = 0.0025).


CONCLUSIONS
In this era after the introduction of the diagnosis-related groups for reimbursement, incisional wound infection after total abdominal hysterectomy leads to a significant period of extra hospital stay.
Kandula
P V
PV
Department of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Health, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Wenzel
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*