Wound edge protectors in open abdominal surgery to reduce surgical site infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Surgical site infections remain one of the most frequent complications following abdominal surgery and cause substantial costs, morbidity and mortality.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of wound edge protectors in open abdominal surgery in reducing surgical site infections.

Evidence review

A systematic literature search was conducted according to a prespecified review protocol in a variety of data-bases combined with hand-searches for randomized controlled trials on wound edge protectors in patients undergoing laparotomy. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of included trials was conducted.

Findings

We identified 16 randomized controlled trials including 3695 patients investigating wound edge protectors published between 1972 and 2014. Criti

SUBMITTER: Mihaljevic AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4376627 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature