title: Prospective randomized controlled trial investigating the type of sutures used during hepatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether absorbable sutures or non-absorbable sutures are better in preventing surgical site infection (SSI), in this paper we discuss the results of a randomized clinical trial which examined the type of sutures used during hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  All hepatic resections performed from January 2007 to November 2008 at the Department of Surgery at Iizuka Hospital in Japan were included in this study. There were 125 patients randomly assigned to an absorbable sutures (Vicryl) group or non-absorbable sutures (Silk) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SSI was observed in 13.6% (17/125) patients participating in this study, 11.3% in the Vicryl group and 15.8% in the Silk group. Incisional SSI including superficial and deep SSI, was observed in 8% of the Vicryl group and 9.5% of the Silk group. Organ/space SSI was observed in 3.2% of the Vicryl group and 6.0% of the Silk group. There were no significant differences, but among the patients with SSI, the period for recovery was significantly shorter for the Vicryl group compared to the Silk group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of SSI in patients receiving absorbable sutures and silk sutures is not significantly different in this randomized controlled study; however, the period for recovery in patients with SSI was significantly shorter for absorbable sutures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Iizuka Hospital, Fukuoka 820-8505, Japan. nharimotoh1@aih-net.com
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harimoto
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirabe
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yukaya
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsujita
authors.forename: Tomonobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gion
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagaie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D047011:Silk; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D047011:Silk; D011098:Polyglactin 910