title: Prevention of Incisional Surgical Site Infection Using a Subcuticular Absorbable Suture in Elective Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer.
abstract: This study examined whether subcuticular absorbable sutures actually reduce incisional SSI in patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Surgical site infection (SSI) is still a source of major complications in digestive tract surgery. Reportedly, incisional SSI can be reduced using subcuticular suturing. We performed subcuticular suturing using a 4-0 absorbable monofilament in patients undergoing elective surgery for GI cancer beginning in 2008. Using an interrupted technique, sutures were placed 1.5-2.0cm from the edge of the wound, with everted subcuticular sutures created at intervals of 1.5-2.0cm. The control group consisted of cases in which the common subcutaneous suture method using clip. One hundred cases were examined in the subcuticular group. The incidence of SSI was 0% in the subcuticular suture group, compared with 13.9% in the control group; this difference was significant. Incisional SSI can be prevented using the devised subcuticular absorbable sutures in patients undergoing elective surgery for GI cancer.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Gastroenterology, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bou
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Gastroenterology, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Gastroenterology, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentarou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maejima
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Absorbable monofilament; Gastrointestinal cancer surgery; Subcuticular suture; Surgical site infection