Assessing the most clinically and cost effective method of closing skin following surgery.
BACKGROUND
Topical skin adhesives (TSAs) and short-term absorbable sutures (STASs) are not as widely used in surgery as nonabsorbable or slowly absorbed sutures.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and cost of skin closure techniques for surgical wounds.


METHODS
Data from clinical trials was used to assess the effectiveness of different skin closure methods. NHS costs were determined from questionnaires sent to nurses to identify treatment elements for individual patients.


RESULTS
The study found TSAs and STASs were as effective as traditional surgical wound closure methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing the use of TSAs and STASs in routine surgery could lead to considerable cost savings for the NHS without compromising clinical effectiveness or safety.
Hargreaves
Judith
J
Ethicon Products, Livingston.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D013222:State Medicine; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013537:Sutures / Q000191:economics*; D006113:United Kingdom