Skip to content

Outcome of Primary vs Delayed Primary Closure of Laparotomy in Dirty Abdominal Wounds

Outcome of Primary vs Delayed Primary Closure of Laparotomy in Dirty Abdominal Wounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07531576
Enrollment
78
Registered
2026-04-15
Start date
2021-02-17
Completion date
2021-06-21
Last updated
2026-04-15

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

Conditions

Delayed Primary Closure, Peritonitis, Primary Closure

Keywords

Visceral Perforation, Contaminated Abdominal Wounds, Emergency Laparotomy, Surgical Site Infection, Dirty abdominal wound, Burst abdomen

Brief summary

This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate and compare two different wound management strategies-primary closure (PC) and delayed primary closure (DPC)-in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for peritonitis * The primary objective is to determine which technique more effectively reduces postoperative complications, specifically surgical site infections (SSI) and wound dehiscence (burst abdomen), while also assessing the impact on the length of hospital stay (LOS) The study includes 78 patients aged 15 to 80 years with free intraperitoneal contamination * In the PC group, the abdominal wound is closed immediately following the procedure * In the DPC group, the skin and subcutaneous tissues are initially left open to allow for drainage and are washed twice weekly until the wound is free of contamination (pus, fecal matter, bile, or blood), at which point it is closed using tension sutures * This study aims to provide clinical evidence on whether the biological benefits of DPC-such as reduced bacterial colonization and improved drainage-outweigh the potential drawbacks of the technique, such as patient discomfort or prolonged care

Interventions

PROCEDUREDelayed Primary Laparotomy wound Closure

This technique involves leaving the skin and subcutaneous tissues open for several days following the initial surgery

In this intervention, the skin and subcutaneous tissues are closed immediately following the completion of the emergency laparotomy

Sponsors

Ayub Teaching Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

To be included in the study, patients had to meet all of the following requirements: Free intraperitoneal contamination resulting from the perforation of any hollow viscus, abdominal trauma, or firearm injuries . Both genders were eligible for participation . Participants had to fall within the age group of 15 to 80 years .

Exclusion criteria

Patients meeting any of the following conditions were excluded from the trial to ensure the integrity of the results and control for confounding variables: Age: Anyone younger than 15 years of age . Pregnancy: All pregnant women were excluded . Type of Surgery: Patients undergoing elective (scheduled) laparotomy rather than emergency procedures . Medication: Any patient currently using steroids for any medical issue . Specific Medical Conditions: Peritonitis caused specifically by pancreatitis . Diabetes mellitus, which was excluded to regulate factors that interfere with wound healing . Individuals with compromised immune systems . These criteria were established to limit the progression of infection and specifically evaluate the impact of the wound closure technique-primary closure versus delayed primary closure-without the interference of significant comorbidities or external factors like malnutrition and immune suppression .

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of Burst Abdomen14 days follow up periodThis measure tracks the incidence of abdominal wall separation or wound dehiscence following emergency laparotomy ,

Countries

Pakistan

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 16, 2026