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Cesarean Wound Closure in Women With BMI 40 or Greater

Cesarean Wound Closure in Women With BMI 40 or Greater: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Subcuticular Suture to Surgical Staples

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02549131
Enrollment
232
Registered
2015-09-15
Start date
2015-09-30
Completion date
2021-01-31
Last updated
2022-08-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

C.Delivery; Penetration, Pregnant Uterus, by Instrument, Obesity

Brief summary

The purpose of this randomized controlled prospective trial is to guide physicians on the most effective evidenced based skin closure during a cesarean section for the obese gravida, defined as a BMI of 40 or greater. The study will compare two closure methods: subcuticular sutures and surgical staples.

Detailed description

The study will screen and attempt to enroll pregnant women admitted to labor and delivery who have a BMI of 40 or greater. The participants will be randomized to receiving skin closure with subcuticular sutures or surgical staples if they undergo cesarean section. Either technique is currently standard of care. Participants who end up undergoing cesarean section will be included in the final data analysis. The participants will be followed for wound complication in the first 6 weeks post operatively. Wound complication will be defined as wound disruption or infection within 6 weeks post operatively. Design and Project Type This study is a randomized controlled trial. At the study facility, in 2012 and 2013, over 300 cesarean sections were performed each year in women with BMI of 40 or greater. Based on this, the investigators expect the duration of the study to be 2 years. Randomization and data collection will be completed on 420 women. Description of Intervention Two interventions will be used in this project: subcuticular suture and surgical staples. The subcuticular suture will be the size and type of suture chosen by the surgeon at the time of cesarean. The surgical staples will be the standard staples used on the labor and delivery unit.

Interventions

PROCEDURERandomizing to Suture or Staple closure of Cesarean section

Randomizing to either surgical subcuticular suture or surgical staples in women of BMI greater than 40 undergoing Cesarean section delivery.

Sponsors

Banner Health
CollaboratorOTHER
Pediatrix
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Pregnant woman * Time to approach and consent the patient prior to undergoing cesarean delivery * Able to give informed consent, include age 18 or greater and ability to read and understand English * BMI of 40 or greater on most recent hospital documentation * Willingness to participate in the study and ability to read, understand and sign the informed consent document

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to give informed consent, including inability to read and understand English and age under 18 years * Evidence of current skin infection or breakdown at or near the site of surgical incision * Any immune compromised status, including AIDS * Negative pressure wound therapy applied at time of surgery

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of wound complication, comparing the outcomes from the two arms2 yearsRate of wound complication comparing the outcomes of subcuticular sutures to surgical staples for cesarean wound closure in the obese gravida during the first 6 weeks postpartum.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of and risk factors for wound complication after cesarean delivery in the obese gravida.2 yearswound complication frequency
Type and location of cesarean incisions in the obese gravida.2 yearstype and location of incisions
Effect of medical comorbidities on wound disruption.2 yearsmedical comorbidities on wound disruption

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026