Intra-Dermal Absorbable Suture in the Groin Incision Associated with Less Groin Surgical Site Infections than Trans-Dermal Sutures in Vascular Surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: The groin surgical site is frequently infected in vascular surgical procedures. Our aim was to evaluate the relation of skin closure methods and groin incision infection after vascular operations involving femoral artery exposure.

METHODS: In this retrospective patient record study, patient files of all consecutive patients admitted for a vascular procedure to the Turku University Hospital Department of Vascular Surgery during 2015-2016 were evaluated. Patients with an isolated groin surgical site because of femoral artery exposure (256) were included in the study. Patient demographics, details of the operations, and follow-up data were collected from the electronic patient data record. Statistical analyses were performed using a multi-variable model.

RESULTS: Altogether, 330 groin incisions were performed for 256 patients. Of all incisions, 262 (79.4%) were closed using intra-dermal absorbable suture; trans-dermal sutures were used in 68 (20.6%) incisions. Groin infections occurred in 24 (9.2%) patients after skin closure with intra-dermal absorbable suture and in 17 (25.0%) cases after trans-dermal sutures. Incisions that were closed using trans-dermal sutures were 3.5 times as likely to have an infection as those closed using intra-dermal sutures (odds ratio 3.5, confidence interval 95% 1.6 to 7.6, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: Present data suggest that groin incision closure with intra-dermal absorbable suture is associated with groin incision infections compared with those incisions closed with trans-dermal sutures.