A vascular multi-arm multi-stage trial to prevent groin wound surgical site infection: A feasibility survey

Abstract

Surgical site infection (SSI) is common following arterial surgery involving a groin incision. There is a lack of evidence regarding interventions to prevent groin wound SSI, therefore, a survey of vascular clinicians was undertaken to assess current opinion and practice, equipoise and feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants at the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting were surveyed regarding three separate interventions designed to prevent SSI in the groin; impregnated incise drapes, diakylcarbomoyl chloride dressings and antibiotic impregnated collagen sponges. Results were collated via an online survey using the Research Electronic Data Capture platform. Seventy-five participants completed the questionnaire, most were consultant vascular surgeons (50/75, 66.7%). The majority agree that groin wound SSI is a major problem (73/75, 97.3%), and would be content using either of the three interventions (51/61, 83.6%) and had clinical equipoise to randomise patients to any of the three interventions versus standard of care (70/75, 93.3%). There was some reluctance to not use impregnated incise drapes as may be considered "standard of care". Groin wound SSI is perceived as major problem in vascular surgery, and a multicentre RCT of three preventative interventions appears acceptable to vascular surgeons.

Keywords: surgical site infection; vascular surgery.

FIGURE 1

Grade of survey respondents.

FIGURE 2

Geographical distribution of vascular units represented in the vascular multi‐arm multi‐stage groin wound surgical site infection trial: A feasibility survey. Figure created using MapChart.net (https://www.mapchart.net/).

FIGURE 3

Interventions currently used in daily vascular practice. Respondents could select multiple options.

FIGURE 4

If you do not use any of these interventions in the groin are there any that you would not be happy to use in your routine surgical practice? Respondents could select multiple options.