Healing time of incision infection after hepatobiliary surgery treated by needle-free incision suture closure

AIM:To compare the effectiveness of needle-free incision suture closure with butterfly tape and traditional secondary suturing techniques in treating incision infection.METHODS:Two hundred and twenty-three patients with incision infection following hepatobiliary surgery at a tertiary hospital were randomly divided into three groups:90 patients were closed by needle-free incision suture closure,which gradually closed the incision wound when drainage from incision infection was visibly decreased and healthy granulation tissues had grown;79 patients were closed by butterfly bandage;another 54 patients were closed by traditional secondary suturing technique.Healing time of incision infection was calculated from the beginning of dressing change to the healing of the incision.RESULTS:Healing time in the needle-free incision suture closure group(24.2±7.2 d)was significantly shorter than that in the butterfly bandage group(33.3±11.2 d)and the traditional secondary suturing group(36.2±15.3 d)(P<0.05).Healing time in the butterfly bandage group appeared to be slightly shorter than that in the secondary suture group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Needle-free incision suture closure could gradually close the infection wound at the same time of drainage and dressing change,thereby shortening the healing time.