Large lower abdominal incisions are still used in many types of common gynecologic surgeries. Patients may experience pain and restrictions to ambulation because of this, which can make healing after surgery harder and more complicated. Abdominal binders, through their added abdominal support, may provide a low cost intervention to help people heal. The study team aims to investigate the effects of abdominal binders on walking in the post- gynecologic surgery period.
Laparotomy is a commonly utilized modality for abdominal entry in benign gynecologic surgery despite preference for minimally invasive techniques when surgically feasible. As with other major abdominal surgeries, patients may experience pain and restrictions to ambulation related to the abdominal incision that complicate the postoperative period. Abdominal binders, through their added abdominal support, may provide a low cost, noninvasive intervention to enhance this vital recovery period. Though the use of abdominal binders have been studied extensively in the postcesarean section patient, no report to date exists assessing the effects on abdominal binders in the postoperative course of benign gynecologic surgeries. The study team aims to investigate the effects of abdominal binders on ambulation in the postoperative period after laparotomy for benign gynecologic surgery. The primary outcome is quantitative ambulation via electronic step counter. Secondary outcomes include time to ambulation, quantitative narcotic utilization, visual analogue pain scale, subjective overall wellbeing. With 85% power the study team attempts to calculate a 1200 step difference in means between abdominal binder and control groups using 67 patients per study arm.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
85
Abdominal Binder placement
step counter to track steps
Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, New York, United States
Daily step counts
Daily step counts taken via electronic step counter over the course of two weeks.
Time frame: Two weeks (until post-operative appointment when step counter is returned)
Time to Ambulation
Time it takes for patient to begin ambulating post-operatively.
Time frame: Within 24 hours (post-operative day one)
Narcotic utilization
Quantitative narcotic utilization while inpatient.
Time frame: 24-48 hours post-operatively (the typical time from surgery to discharge)
Visual analogue pain scale
Patient's average pain scale as reported to nursing via analogue pain scale. Total scale from 0-10, higher score indicates more pain
Time frame: 24-48 hours post-operatively (the typical time from surgery to discharge)
Number of participants who thinks there was a benefit
Number of participants who thinks they benefitted from wearing the abdominal binder as reported retrospectively at the two week post-operative visit.
Time frame: Two weeks (at time of post-operative visit)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.