A Comparative Study of Intra Operative irrigation of subcutaneous tissue with povidone iodine solution versus saline irrigation in appendicectomy for prevention of surgical site wound infection.” – A one year randomized control trial at KLES’ Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objectives ABSTRACT Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in the developed countries that is common in the second decade of life with Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) complicating 1–5% of appendicectomy cases. The present study was undertaken to compare and evaluate the use of povidone iodine solution versus saline irrigation in intraoperative subcutaneous irrigation in appendicectomy for prevention of surgical site infection and also to compare the duration of post-operative hospital stay in each study group. Methodology This one year randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum over a period of January 2010 to December 2010 on 100 patients with non perforated appendicitis. Based on the envelope method, patients were divided into two groups namely group A (Subcutaneous irrigation with 10% Povidone iodine) and group B (Subcutaneous irrigation with normal saline). Results In the present study, females outnumbered males (56% vs 44%) in normal saline irrigation group. The mean age in povidone iodine irrigation group was 31.20 ± 12.68 years and in normal saline group it was 29.90 ± 12.05 years. On day seven, none of the patients in povidone iodine irrigation group and 82% in normal saline group had no SSIs. In the remaining patients of normal saline irrigation group 14% of patients had Grade 2 while, 4% had Grade 1 SSIs and IX this difference was statistically significant (p=0.003). Mean stay in hospital for povidone iodine group was seven days as compared to 8.4 days in normal saline group. Conclusion and interpretation The results of the present study showed that, intraoperative irrigation of subcutaneous tissue with 10% povidine iodine helps in preventing SSIs as compared to normal saline irrigation. It also reduced post operative length of hospital stay significantly.