European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Wound Healing is the summation of a number of processes that follow injury. Despite immense advances in the technique of wound creation and closure, there continues to be an important percentage of patients undergoing abdominal operations, suffering from delayed wound healing and partial wound failure. The aim of this study is to assess the various factors influencing post laparotomy wound healing. To identify the pre-operative, operative and post operative risk factors in patients having poor wound healing. Material and Methods: All adult male and female patients undergoing laparotomy for various indications were included in the study. This descriptive, non-interventional case study was conducted in the Departments of General Surgery in Veer Surendra Sai institute of medical science and research burla sambalpur. (Minimum of 100 cases). Results: This prospective study was conducted in VIMSAR hospital, burla, sambalpur. A total of 100 patients undergoing laparotomies were studied .40 patients were found to have delayed wound healing. The strongest association for delayed healing was found to be wound infection, followed by smoking, chronic cough, poorly controlled diabetes and alcohol. Conclusions: The incidence of delayed healing was found to be higher in our study with increased incidence of wound infection. It was found that emergency laparotomies were associated with an increased incidence of wound infection and thereby delayed healing. Poor wound healing is also associated strongly with poor nutrition and uncontrolled diabetes. These factors should be taken into account and efforts have to be made to correct the risk factors pre or post-operatively.