A 2-year Review of Wound Outcome Following Primary Skin Closure After Laparotomy for Typhoid Ileal Perforation in Bida, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Laparotomy wound for typhoid ileal perforation is a dirty wound and is usually associated with wound complications and prolonged hospital stay. Delayed primary wound closure which for long has been the most common practice after laparotomy for typhoid peritonitis is now considered to be of little significance in preventing surgical site infection (SSI). We aimed to document the incidence, severity and management of wound complications when primary closure of abdominal wounds was performed following laparotomy for typhoid ileal perforation. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients who had primary abdominal wound closure following laparotomy for typhoid ileal perforation in Federal Medical Centre, Bida from January 2017 to December 2018. Results: There were 71 patients with the age ranges from 2 to 41 years and their median age was 15 years who had laparotomy for typhoid ileal perforation during the study period. All 71 patients had primary closure of their abdominal wounds, however two of them died within 72 hours of operation and were excluded from the study. There were males 38 (55.1%) and females 31 (44.9%) with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. There was primary wound healing in 23 (33.3%) patients while 44 (63.8%) of them developed incisional surgical site infections (SSI) and 2 (2.9%) developed organ space SSI. Of the 44 patients that had incisional SSI, 33 (75.0%) were superficial and 11 (25.0%) were deep. Other complications noted from the study were faecal fistulae 3 (4.3%) and incisional hernia (4.3%). Conclusion: Though a high incidence of wound morbidity is not unexpected in situation of primary closure of laparotomy wound for bacteria peritonitis, an aggressive wound management may help to reduce the incidence and severity of wound complications in such situations.