Subcutaneous vicryl suture covering efficacy on wound complications after cesarean section

Background: Increasing abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness is a risk factor for postoperative complications in obese women who underwent cesarean section (C/S). Different strategies have used to decrease the wound complications. Using antibacterial vicryl suture to decrease infectious complications has been studied for several years. Present study assesses the effect of subcutaneous closure with antibacterial vicryl suture on decreasing wound complications in obese women with C/S.

Methods: This single blind randomized clinical trial conducted on obese women whose the subcutaneous tissue thickness was more than 2cm. They divided into two case and control groups. Antibacterial vicryl used in case group for closuring subcutaneous tissue in 133 patients and vicryl in control group including 131 patients. Incidence rate of seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence and wound infection were assessed.

Results: Both groups were homogenous regarding to maternal age, gestational age, BMI, subcutaneous tissue thickness and C/S indications. In case group, incidence rate of infection slightly decreased compared to control group (1.5% VS. 6.1% P=0.059). There was no significant difference in occurrence rate of seroma, hematoma and wound dehiscence between two groups.

Conclusion: The results indicated that using antibacterial vicryl for subcutaneous tissue closure in obese women doesn’t seem effective to decrease wound complications while its increases the cost of surgery.