# Prevention of Skin Damage Using Disposable Retractors in Open Hepatobiliary Surgery: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial Comparing Film Drapes and Sewn Gauze

## TL;DR

This study found that using sewn gauze instead of film drapes reduces skin injuries caused by retractors during open abdominal surgery.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that sewn gauze is more effective than film drapes in preventing skin injuries during hepatobiliary surgery.

## Key findings

- The film drape group had 12 skin injury incidents compared to 4 in the sewn gauze group.
- Sewn gauze significantly reduces postoperative skin injuries during open hepatobiliary surgery.
- The study was conducted in a single medical center with 57 patients over 10 months.

## Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of film drapes and sewn gauze in preventing skin injuries caused by the use of disposable retractors during open hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery under general anesthesia.

Design

This was a single-center, nonrandomized, controlled trial.

Methods

This study was conducted at a medical center between August 2021 and May 2022. All participants were aged 20 years or older and underwent open abdominal hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery under general anesthesia using disposable retractors.

Results

During the study period, 57 patients were enrolled: 29 in the film drape group and 28 in the sewn gauze group. Notably, the film drape group experienced 12 incidents of skin injury, whereas the sewn gauze group experienced statistically significantly fewer, at only four incidents.

Conclusions

In open abdominal hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery under general anesthesia, the use of sutured gauze to provide moisture and pressure relief during the use of disposable retractors significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative skin injuries.