Ihtasham muhammad ch, omar shahzad altaf, salman ahmed tipu, haroonur rashid, yasir masood kiani, mumtaz akhtar

A COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR THE RISK OF BURST ABDOMEN WITH CONTINUOUS VERSUS INTERRUPTED X-SUTURINGIN EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY WOUND

IHTASHAM MUHAMMAD CH, OMAR SHAHZAD ALTAF, SALMAN AHMED TIPU,

HAROONUR RASHID, YASIR MASOOD KIANI, MUMTAZ AKHTAR

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk of burst abdomen in emergency laparotomy for acute abdomen in abdominal wound closure by interruptedX technique versus traditional continuous closure.

STUDY DESIGN: A Quasi experimental study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: At Surgical Unit II of Rawalpindi General Hospital, Rawalpindi during the period of 1 year from 1^st June to 30th May 2008

METHODOLOGY: 80 patients who were operated for acute abdomen were divided into two treatment groups (Group A B) with 40 patients in each group without gender discrimination. Convenience non probability sampling was used and patients included in 2 groups on alternate basis. In group A patients after laparotomy the abdominal wound was closed with continuous suturing technique by polypropylene No 1. In group B patients after laparotomy the abdominal wound was closed with interrupted X technique by polypropylene No 1.

RESULTS: Age ranged from 18 to 60 years with peak age group between 19 to 40 years. 56 patients (67.5 %) were male and 24 patients (32.5 %) were female. Burst abdomen occurred in 4 (10%) patients of group A, and 1 patient (2.5%) in group B (p=.359).

CONCLUSION: Statistically there is no difference in the risk of burst abdomen after closure of midline laparotomy wound in cases operated in emergency for acute abdomen by using interrupted X technique of closure as compare to continuous closure.

KEY WORDS: Acute abdomen, Midline laparotomy, Burst abdomen, Continuous Stitch, Interrupted X Stitch