Effect of subcutaneous suture line and surgical technique on wound infection after saphenectomy in coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective randomised study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of an additional subcutaneous suture line on the incidence of postoperative (p.o.) infection at the vena saphena magna harvesting site (VSMHS) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


METHODS
Two hundred and forty three patients undergoing CABG were included. Patients in Group A (n = 119) all operated by one physical assistant (PA) were prospectively randomised into Group A1 (n = 59) receiving intracutaneous closure suture alone whereas 60 patients (Group A2) received an additional subcutaneous suture line. Group B (n = 120), operated by surgical residents, served as control population. All patients were due to follow-up at six weeks p.o.


RESULTS
Subcutaneous suture did not impact the p.o. infection rate (A2 vs. A1; 4/60 vs. 2/59, n.s.). A significant lower p.o. infection rate was observed in Group A vs. Group B (6/119 (5%) vs. 15/120 (13%) p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous suture did not impact the p.o. infection rate at VSMHS. The infection rate observed in patients operated by an experienced PA was significantly lower than in patients operated by various surgical residents.
Stenvik
Maryann
M
St Elisabeth Heart and Lung Surgery Department, St Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Tjomsland
Ole
O
Lien
Steinar
S
Gunnes
Sigurd
S
Kirkeby-Garstad
Idar
I
Astudillo
Rafael
R
D002983:Clinical Competence; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*