Factors Affecting Wound Healing after Laparotomy at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Odisha, India: A Prospective Interventional Study

Introduction: Wound healing after the injury occurs after various phases and is affected by multiple factors. It plays a psychological role for the surgeon and patients, influencing morbidity and hospital stay. Factors like age, nutrition, use of steroids, type of incision, diabetes and infection plays an essential role in wound healing. Aim: To assess the factors influencing patients and affecting wound healing after laparotomy. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried in the Department of General Surgery, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India, between October 2019 and September 2021 on 100 patients undergoing laparotomy, admitted in the surgical ward. Data was collected regarding clinical history including co-morbid conditions (diabetes, hypertension, anaemia), general physical and systemic examination and relevant diagnostic investigations. The collected data was tabulated as mean±Standard Deviation (SD), frequency (n) and percentage (%) for proper analysis, represented in form of pie-charts and bar diagrams. Results: A total of 100 patients undergoing laparotomies were studied, with maximum participants in 61-70 years of age. Out of these, 40 patients were found to have delayed wound healing (mean age: 62.2 years), 10 (25%) were females and 30 (75%) were males. Wound infection was most common (n=38) factor for delayed healing followed by diabetes (16 patients out of 30 known diabetics), and consumption of alcohol (14 patients out of 24 known alcoholics) and smoking (20 out of 25 known chronic smokers). Conclusion: The incidence of delayed healing was higher in the present study with an increased incidence of wound infection. Clinical factors of low haemoglobin, low serum albumin, history of diabetes mellitus, alcohol and smoking, were observed to be associated with delayed wound healing along with physiological predisposing factors of increasing age and gender. These factors should be considered, and efforts can be made to manage these risk factors for proper care of patients.