The purpose of this research study is to determine if closing a surgical wound differently is better than the procedure that is currently used. The wound will be closed with what is considered "tertiary intent." This means, rather than leaving the wound open, the wound will be partially closed after surgery, and then completely closed 4-7 days after surgery. The investigators also want to see how this new wound closure process affects your quality of life.
Primary Objective To compare the percentage of patients whose wound remained closed on postoperative day #30 after tertiary closure compared to historical controls who underwent secondary would closure. We are primarily looking at time to wound closure. We will be able to abstract this information from the postoperative clinic visit notes from patients in the "historical control" cohort. We will identify 20 patients with characteristics described in the inclusion criteria of this study who underwent laparotomy with secondary would closure during the calendar year 2018. Secondary Objectives To compare the proportion of acute and chronic wound infection in wounds closed with a tertiary closure technique to historical controls receiving a secondary wound closure. To compare the length of stay of patients receiving a tertiary wound closure to historical controls receiving a secondary wound closure. To describe the number of patients receiving a tertiary wound closure that return within 30 days of surgery as compared to historical controls receiving a secondary wound closure. To describe the quality of life in patients receiving a tertiary wound closure.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
8
The wound will be closed with what is considered tertiary wound closure. This means, rather than leaving the wound open, the wound will be partially closed after surgery, and then completely closed 4-7 days after surgery.
Participants wounds are left partially open to heal.
Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Percentage Comparisons of Tertiary Wound Closure Versus Historical Controls Postoperative Day 30
The percent of wound closure that occurs postoperative day #30 after tertiary wound closure as compared to historical controls receiving a secondary wound closure.
Time frame: 30 days after tertiary wound closure
Proportions of Tertiary Technique Versus Historical Controls
The proportion of SSI using a tertiary closure technique compared to historical controls receiving a secondary would closure.
Time frame: 30 days after tertiary wound closure
Length of Hospital Stay
The length of stay as defined by the time from surgery to discharge as compared to historical controls receiving a secondary would closure.
Time frame: Up to 3 months after surgery
Proportion of Patients Returning after Surgery
The proportion of patients that return within 30 days of surgery.
Time frame: Up to 30 days after surgery
Change of Quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36
The quality of life in patients receiving a tertiary wound closure. The scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight. The lower the score the more disability. The higher the score the less disability i.e., a score of zero is equivalent to maximum disability and a score of 100 is equivalent to no disability.
Time frame: Up to 3 months after tertiary wound closure
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