Surgical Wound Infection Post Surgery in Perforated Appendicitis in Children
WICHATE CHATWIRIYACHAROEN, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Surin Hospital, Surin 32000, Thailand.
Objective : To compare the rate of wound infection of perforated appendicitis in children between primary wound closure and delayed primary wound closure. Study
Design : Prospective clinical trial.
Materials and Methods : Children diagnosed with perforated appendicitis between January 1999 and December 1999 received gentamicin and metronidazole pre - and post-operatively. Intra abdominal fluid cultured and tested for sensitivity. The rate of wound infection, skin closure for patients were compared between primary wound closure and delayed primary wound closure.
Results : Among 198 children diagnosed with appendicitis, 44 cases were perforated (22.22%). Of these 44 cases, 8 cases had wound infection (18.18%), 2 of 8 Infected cases (9.1 %) were in the primary wound closure group, 6 of 8 (27.3%) were in the delayed primary wound closure group.
Conclusion : The rate of wound infection from perforated appendicitis in children is still high. Primary wound closure has a significantly lower rate of wound infection compared with delayed primary wound closure.
Keywords : Surgical Wound Infection, Perforated Appendicitis, Primary Wound Closure
