Factors associated with an increased risk of wound dehiscence:
(1) hypoproteinemia (associated with low serum albumin)
(2) nausea and vomiting (more than 2 times per day, or requiring treatment)
(3) fever (more than 38°C in 2 consecutive readings)
(4) wound infection
(5) abdominal distention
(6) type of suture material (see Table 6, page 125): silk suture was higher risk, while continuous polidiaxonone (PDS) was low risk
(7) >= 2 abdominal drains
(8) surgeon's experience, with risk low for senior surgeons
Factors NOT associated with an increased risk of wound dehiscence:
(1) emergency surgery
(2) jaundice
(3) ostomy
(4) total parenteral nutrition
(5) ascites
(6) pulmonary morbidity
(7) comorbid disease (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic renal disease, COPD, heart failure, other)
(8) anemia
(9) leukocytosis
(10) type of incision
Interpretation:
• The risk of wound dehiscence when all 8 risk factors are present is 100%.
• The risk of wound dehiscence when none of the risk factors is present is low.
• Unfortunately the risks when 1-7 factors is present is not explicitly stated.
• Mortality increased as the total number of risk factors increased. This appears to be include both factors associated and not associated with wound dehiscence (mortality 30% with 7 risk factors, 58% with 8, and 100% for >= 10).
