Abstract: Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication after surgery and has a negative impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. The reported incidence of SSI after abdominal surgery ranges from 10-30%. The use of supplemental oxygen to prevent SSI is thought to enhance innate defence mechanisms against surgical pathogens that are neutralised mainly by the neutrophil-mediated oxidative burst. This effect is related to tissue partial pressure of oxygen (PtsO2), which in turn is directly dependent on arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2). Hence, an association between PaO2 and SSI has always been suggested. Hence a comparative study is undertaken to study the effectiveness of supplemental oxygen in the post-operative period in cases which have high risk of developing surgical site infection.
Materials and Methods: A prospective Cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of supplemental oxygen in the post-operative period in high risk abdominal surgeries is performed from Sept 2020- Jan 2021 in R L Jalappa hospital, Kolar. Cases were allocated to study group (Group A) and control group (Group B) by simple random sampling. The results were analysing using SPSS.22VERSION software.
Results: There was no significant difference in mean age comparison, duration of procedure, sex distribution and drainage of pus between the two groups. Significant difference was noted in serous discharge, purulent discharge, erythema, separation of tissues distribution between two groups from Day 1 to Day 5. Out of 28 patients in Group A, 16 (57.14%) patients had satisfactory healing, 11 (39.29%) had disturbance of healing and 1 (3.57%) had mild wound infection. Out of 28 patients in Group B, 6 patients (21.42%) had satisfactory healing, 16 (57.14%) had disturbance of healing, 3 (10.71%) had mild wound infection, 2 (7.14%) had moderate wound infection and 1(3.57%) had severe wound infection. SSI was seen more in Group B compared to Group A.
Conclusions: Post op supplementation of oxygen in high risk emergency abdominal surgeries reduces the incidence of SSI.
