BackgroundSeveral factors and patient characteristics influence the risk of surgical wound dehiscence and incisional hernia after midline laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a specified, or not specified, suture quota in the operative report affects the incidence of surgical wound complications and to describe the previously known risk factors for these complications.MethodsRetrospective data collection from medical records of all vascular procedures and laparotomies engaging the small intestines, colon and rectum performed in 2010. Patients were enrolled from four hospitals in the region Västra Götaland, Sweden. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression analyses were used when calculating the impact of the risk factors for surgical wound dehiscence and incisional hernia.ResultsA total of 1,621 patients were included in the study. Wound infection was a risk factor for both wound dehiscence and incisional hernia. BMI 25–30, 30–35 and >35 were risk factors for wound dehiscence and BMI 30–35 was a risk factor for incisional hernia. We did not find that documentation of the details of suture technique, regarding wound and suture length, influenced the rate of wound dehiscence or incisional hernia.ConclusionsThese results support previous findings identifying wound infection and high BMI as risk factors for both wound dehiscence and incisional hernia. Our study indicates the importance of preventive measures against wound infection and a preoperative dietary regiment could be considered as a routine worth testing for patients with high BMI planned for abdominal surgical precedures.

Introduction: Whether data on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-codes from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) correctly correspond to subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and phenotypes of the Montreal classification scheme among patients with prevalent disease is unknown. Materials and methods: We obtained information on IBD subtypes and phenotypes from the medical records of 1403 patients with known IBD who underwent biological treatment at ten Swedish hospitals and retrieved information on their IBD-associated diagnostic codes from the NPR. We used previously described algorithms to define IBD subtypes and phenotypes. Finally, we compared these register-generated subtypes and phenotypes with the corresponding information from the medical records and calculated positive predictive values (PPV) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Among patients with clinically confirmed disease and diagnostic listings of IBD in the NPR (N ¼ 1401), the PPV was 97 (96-99)% for Crohn's disease, 98 (97-100)% for ulcerative colitis, and 8 (4-11)% for IBD-unclassified. The overall accuracy for age at diagnosis was 95% (when defined as A1, A2, or A3). Examining the validity of codes representing disease phenotype, the PPV was 36 (32-40)% for colonic Crohn's disease (L2), 61 (56-65)% for non-stricturing/non-penetrating Crohn's disease behaviour (B1) and 83 (78-87)% for perianal disease. Correspondingly, the PPV was 80 (71-89)% for proctitis (E1)/left-sided colitis (E2) in ulcerative colitis.

Background and Aims: loop ileostomies are frequently used as diversion of the fecal stream to protect a distal anastomosis. the aim of this study was to identify complications and morbidity related to loop ileostomies in patients with ulcerative colitis at a nonemergent setting.Material and Methods: Consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis who received a loop ileostomy at a tertiary referral center in sweden from January 2006 until december 2012 were included and studied retrospectively.Results: in total, 71 patients were identified, and the median age was 39 years. a majority (94%) of the patients underwent proctectomy or proctocolectomy with primary construction of an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. in total, 38 patients (54%) had one or more postoperative complications at index surgery. stoma-related complications were seen in 49% where parastomal skin irritation was most common. in total, 18% of the patients were re-admitted due to morbidity related to the ileostomy, and the leading cause was high volume output. Complications related to closure were seen in 29% of the patients, and of these, 30% required surgical intervention. in total, five patients (7%) developed a symptomatic leakage in the ileo-ileal anastomosis. there was no mortality.Conclusion: loop ileostomies in this young patient cohort resulted in considerable morbidity. Closure of the ileostomy was also associated with complications. although the diverting loop ileostomy is constructed to decrease the clinical consequences of an anastomotic leakage, the inherent morbidity should be considered. preventive measures for parastomal skin problems could improve results.