Randomized prospective trial of saphenous vein harvest site infection after wound closure with and without topical application of autologous platelet-rich plasma.
OBJECTIVE
Wound infection is still a common problem after open long saphenous vein harvesting. Platelets are important for the healing process. The hypothesis was that spraying of the wounds with platelet-rich plasma might reduce the frequency of harvest site infections.


METHODS
From January to October 2008, 140 patients undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized into two groups of 70 patients. Both groups had standard surgical leg wound closure and care except topical application of platelet-rich plasma as adjunctive treatment in the active treatment group. End points were wound infection and cosmetic result at 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The follow-up was 100% complete. Nine patients (13%) in the treatment group and eight (11%) in the control group experienced harvest site infection (p=0.80). The overall cosmetic result was also similar between the groups (p=0.34), but the top score was borderline and more frequent in the treatment group (p=0.050).


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of autologous platelet-rich plasma on vein harvest wounds did not reduce the rate of surgical site infection.
Almdahl
Sven M
SM
Feiring Heart Clinic, 2093 Feiring, Norway. sven.m.almdahl@unn.no
Veel
Terje
T
Halvorsen
Per
P
Vold
Mona Bekken
MB
Mølstad
Per
P
D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*