Postoperative wound infection after total abdominal hysterectomy: a controlled study of the increased duration of hospital stay and trends in postoperative wound infection

Abstract

Background: Total abdominal hysterectomy, a common operative procedure, is infrequently accompanied by incisional wound infection. No recent study has examined the excess hospital stay attributable to such infections.

Methods: This historical cohort study of cases and matched controls was performed in a tertiary care university hospital.

Results: During the 5-year study period (1985 to 1989), the infection rate was 10.5 per 100 procedures; patients with infection remained hospitalized 3.55 days longer than did matched control patients (p = 0.0025).

Conclusion: In this era after the introduction of the diagnosis-related groups for reimbursement, incisional wound infection after total abdominal hysterectomy leads to a significant period of extra hospital stay.