DOI: 10.36347/sasjs.2022.v08i08.013

Pages: 562-567

Objective: Healing of laparotomy wounds is associated with number of factors. The aim of the study was to compare skin stapler and polypropylene sutures in closing laparotomy wounds. Materials and method: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study duration was 6 months, from July 2010 to December 2010. A total of 100 participants were included in the study, divide in two equal groups of 50 participants. The first group received interrupted suture with 2/0 polypropylene. The other group received skin staples. Results: The mean time for closure with suture and staple were 3.7±SD and 22.5±SD cm/min respectively (p- value<0.05). Rate of wound closure was calculated in cm per minute and materials were compared statistically in pairs by t- test. Wounds were closed five times faster with staples then suture (p<0.001). In relation to post-operative infection, 17 (34%) cases developed wound infection in sutured group and 15 (30%) patients in stapled group. Most of the infection occurred in the emergency contaminated cases. There was no significant association between wound infections and method of skin closure (p> 0.05, chi square= 3.15). Conclusions: Staples were well-liked by operators and resulted in substantial and worthwhile savings in time for wound closure.