Factors associated with surgical-site infection after total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Abstract

Objective

In recent years, minimally invasive surgery has been emphasized in gynecological surgery, and total laparoscopic hysterectomy has been increasingly reported. In this retrospective single-center study, the main objective was to identify risk factors for the development of surgical-site infection (SSI) after total laparoscopic hysterectomy. The secondary objective was to investigate the efficacy of transvaginal drainage as a treatment for SSI.

Methods

This retrospective study investigated 377 patients who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Japan between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. Patients were divided into the SSI group and non-SSI group based on whether they suffered from SSI. The data of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors for SSI were collected and analyzed.

Results

Of the 377 patients who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy, 21 patients were in the SSI group and 356 patients were in the non-SSI group. After the comparison between the two groups and the multivariate analysis, only the C-reactive protein level on postoperative day 3 (OR = 1.556, 95% CI: 1.233–1.964, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with SSI. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that the C-reactive protein level >7.6 mg/dL on postoperative day 3 could detect the SSI onset early. In the SSI group, the hospital stay was longer for patients with transvaginal drainage than for patients without (17.40 ± 3.21 d vs. 10.90 ± 2.39 d, p = 0.0027). However, none required reoperation.

Conclusions

Patients with a high postoperative C-reactive protein level may be experiencing SSI, and ultrasonography and other imaging procedures should be performed immediately. If a vaginal abscess is confirmed on imaging, transvaginal drainage should be performed early, which may prevent reoperation.