Comparing Wound Healing and Infection Risk Between Early and Late Dressing Removal After Abdominal Hysterectomy

TL;DR

This study compares early and late dressing removal after abdominal hysterectomy and finds that early removal may speed healing and shorten hospital stays without increasing infection risk.

Contribution

The study provides evidence supporting flexible dressing timing in ERAS protocols for abdominal hysterectomy.

Findings

Early dressing removal was associated with shorter hospital stays.

No significant differences were found in wound complications or readmission rates between the groups.

Dressing timing does not decisively impact postoperative complications.

Abstract

Introduction: This study evaluates the effects of dressing timing after abdominal hysterectomy on wound healing and infection risk. It highlights the potential for early dressing removal to accelerate healing and underscores the need for clear guidelines in wound care that align with the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol.

Methods: Using a prospective, randomized, double-blind design, this research was carried out at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. The objective was to investigate the impact of early dressing removal on wound healing and infection rates after elective abdominal hysterectomy.

Results: Demographic parameters such as age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were found to have no significant impact on wound healing. Patients whose dressings were removed early had shorter hospital stays. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of wound complications and hospital readmission rates.

Conclusions: Early dressing removal after abdominal hysterectomy was observed to positively affect wound healing and facilitate earlier hospital discharge. However, no significant differences were found in hospital readmission rates between the two groups. These findings suggest that the dressing timing can be more flexible within the ERAS protocol and does not have a decisive impact on postoperative complications.