Wound complications after hand assisted laparoscopic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Hand assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) provides benefits similar to standard laparoscopy but generally requires a larger incision. We assessed the nature of and risk factors for incisional complications after HALS.


METHODS
All patients who underwent HALS at our institution from February 1997 through December 2003 were included in a prospective and retrospective review to assess postoperative wound complications. Literature regarding wound complications associated with open surgery and standard laparoscopy was reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 424 consecutive procedures performed on 422 patients were evaluated. Postoperative HALS incision site complications included 29 infections (6.8%), 15 hernias (3.5%) and 2 dehiscences (0.5%). Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that HALS incision site hernias were associated with current or past tobacco smoking (6.0%, p = 0.04), with a trend toward significance for diabetes mellitus (14%, p = 0.07), male gender (5.3%, p = 0.08) and renal failure (16%, p = 0.08). HALS incision site infections were associated with omission of perioperative antibiotics (13%, p = 0.007), obesity (12%, p = 0.03) and increased operative time (252 vs 222 minutes in patients with and without infection, respectively, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that wound infections and hernias occur less frequently with HALS than with open surgery, but more often than with standard laparoscopy. Certain patient comorbidities (eg obesity), modifiable risk factors (eg smoking status) and procedural variables (eg omission of perioperative antibiotics or length of procedure) may adversely influence HALS wound complications. This information can be used to decide between HALS and standard laparoscopic approaches in particular patients.
Montgomery
Jeffrey S
JS
Michigan Urology Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Johnston
William K
WK
Wolf
J Stuart
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006547:Hernia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome