Does liquid tissue adhesive increase satisfaction with wound and stoma management after surgery?
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study reviews the impact of tissue adhesive to seal skin wounds in elective large bowel resections where a stoma is fashioned.


METHODS
Patients undergoing elective colorectal resection over six-month period were prospectively evaluated for wound infections rates, length of inpatient stay and patient satisfaction with their wound and stoma management. The wounds were observed for 30 days in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A patient satisfaction questionnaire was used with respect to the stoma and wound management.


RESULTS
Fifty patients undergoing elective colorectal resection over a six-month period were prospectively evaluated. The median patient ages were 63.5 years (40-83) for males and 60 years (33-85) for females. Ninety-two per cent of the patients found their wound management satisfactory (overall satisfaction score >5, where 5 represents 'high satisfaction'). Eighty-six per cent reported a stoma management satisfaction score of >4 (where for 4 represents 'satisfaction'). Stoma site leakage was reported by 16%, but none of these developed a SSI. Two patients who had laboratory-confirmed SSI; they had an average length of inpatient stay of 18 days compared with 6.5 days for patients without SSI. .


CONCLUSIONS
Liquid tissue adhesive provides a flexible, water-resistant and protective coating which increases the satisfaction and ease of surgical wound and stoma management. We recommend a randomised controlled trial be conducted to evaluate these results in larger cohorts.
Senior House Officer, Department of Integrated Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, UK. mia7@leicester.ac.uk
M I
MI
Aslam
D C
DC
Hunter
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003125:Colostomy; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; C100832:octyl 2-cyanoacrylate