Background: Surgical wound infection (SWI) of the leg after saphenous vein harvesting is an important complication of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures. SWIs may restrict mobility in the postoperative period and increase costs of postoperative hospitalisation and antibiotic treatment.
Methods: A total of 356 patients were followed. Surgical risk factors were evaluated for SWI following saphenous vein harvesting, and the effectiveness of an occlusive glycerinated hydrogel dressing in reducing postoperative SWIs was assessed. In addition, the ability of postoperative clinical wound assessment to predict SWI following CABG 30 and 60 days after operation was investigated.
Results: The most important risk factor for SWI after saphenous vein harvesting was the use of a monofilament suture for skin closure (glycomer 4-0 Biosyn Tyco Healthcare, Stockholm, Sweden) (p > 0.001). The hydrogel dressing did not prevent the development of SWIs. The clinical wound assessment showed that wound gap was associated with leg infection, but other signs were poor predictors of SWI.
Conclusion: The choice of suture and suturing technique is important to prevent SWI following saphenous vein harvesting. More precise definitions of wound signs are necessary if they are to be used as predictors of SWI.