COMPARISON OF FREQUENCY OF WOUND DEHISCENCE IN CASES OF EXPLORATORY LAPAROTOMY CLOSED BY INTERRUPTED VERSUS CONTINUOUS SUTURE TECHNIQUE FOLLOWING TYPHOID ILEAL PERFORATION AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, KARACHI

Abstract

Objective: To compare the rate of wound dehiscence in exploratory laparotomy wounds sealed with interrupted versus continuous suture technique after typhoid ileal perforation in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Study Design: Prospective comparative study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, from December 2025 to June 2026.

Methodology: A total population of 144 patients aged 30 to 80 years undergoing laparotomy exploratory surgery due to typhoid ileal perforation were involved. The patients were separated into two equal groups (n=72 each). Group A was fascial closed with interrupted Smead-Jones technique using Prolene 1 whereas Group B was continued to be fascially closed with Prolene 1. The patients were monitored within eight days of postoperative to determine the presence of wound dehiscence as postoperative abdominal musculoaponeurotic layers separation verified by clinical evaluation. The SPSS version 26 was used in the analysis of data. The Chi-square test was used to compare the results of the two groups and p-value ≤0.05 was defined to be significant.

Results: In the interrupted group, wound dehiscence was observed in 15 (20.8%) patients out of 144, whereas in the continuous group, it was observed in 6 (8.3%) patients. The value was statistically significant (p = 0.031). The odds ratio of wound dehiscence was found to be 2.91 times greater in patients who experienced interrupted closure than in those who experienced continuous closure (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.087.83).

Conclusion: The frequency of wound dehiscence in patients who were subjected to laparotomy on the grounds of typhoid ileal perforation was significantly lower when using continuous fascial closure technique than when using interrupted closure technique. Continuous closure could provide better wound integrity and minimized post-operative morbidity in emergency abdominal operations in our environment.