SURGICAL SITE INFECTION;

FREQUENCY AFTER OPEN CHOLECYSTECTOMY USING SOUTHAMPTON WOUND SCORING SYSTEM IN SURGICAL UNIT KHYBER TEACHING HOSPITAL PESHAWAR

Abstract

Objective: To assess the post operative wound complication after open
cholecystectomy for uncomplicated Cholelithiasis. Design: Cross sectional descriptive. Setting:
Surgical unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar Pakistan. Patients: 223 patients underwent
elective open cholecystectomy January 2011 to July 2012. Results: 90% patients had normal
healing (grade 0 or I) ,7.5% had minor complications (grade II or III), 2.5% patients had major
complication (grade IV or V) recorded during hospital stay. On follow-up in out-patient
department 81%patients found to have normal healing (grade 0 or I), 15% patients had minor
complications (grade II or III) and 4% patients had major complications (grade IV or V). There was
an increase noted in wound grades during follow up for surgical site infections as compared to
their record during hospital stay. Conclusions: Southampton wound scoring system is a useful
tool for detection of surgical site infection and standardization. Auditing of surgical site infection
by Southampton wound scoring will help the patient, surgical team and sterilization protocol to
be improved.