Effects of the application of vitamin E and silicone dressings vs conventional dressings on incisional surgical site infection in elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To compare the effect of conventional wound dressings (CD) with vitamin E and silicone (E-Sil) dressings on incisional surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective colorectal laparoscopic surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized study was performed. Patients were assigned at random into two groups: an E-Sil group and a CD group. Incisional SSI, postoperative pain and acute phase reactants were investigated.

RESULTS: In total, 120 patients were included in this study (60 in each group). The incisional SSI rate was 3.4% in the E-Sil group and 17.2% in the CD group (P = 0.013). Bacteroides fragilis alone grew in the cultures of infected wounds in the E-Sil group, while cultures for infected wounds in the CD group were polymicrobial. Mean postoperative pain 48 h after surgery was 27.1 [standard deviation (SD) 10.7] mm in the E-Sil group and 41.6 (SD 16.9) mm in the CD group (P < 0.001). White blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were lower in the E-Sil group, even after the exclusion of patients presenting with postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION: Use of an E-sil dressing to cover the Pfannestiel wound after elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery leads to a reduction in the incisional SSI rate, lower postoperative pain, and a decrease in CRP level and WBC count.