Original Paper

Increased Risk of Wound Complications and Poor Healing following Laparotomy in HIV-Seropositive and AIDS Patients
Peter A. Davis^a, David J. Corless^a, Brian G. Gazzard^b, Christopher Wastell^a

Departments of
^aAcademic Surgery and
^bHIV/GU Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Dig Surg 1999;16:60-67 (DOI: 10.1159/000018695)

  Key Words

• Wound healing
• Complications, wound
• HIV
• AIDS

  Abstract

The number of individuals in the UK who are HIV seropositive is increasing as is their presentation with abdominal complications. Poor wound healing following anorectal surgery in HIV-positive patients has been well reported. This study reviews the incidence of wound complications following laparotomy. The hospital records of all HIV-positive patients who underwent laparotomy at a London teaching hospital over a 10-year period were reviewed and compared to an equal number of matched non-HIV patients. Between April 1986 and April 1996, 64 laparotomies were carried out on 53 patients. There was a significantly greater incidence of wound complications (² = 12.75, 1 d.f., p = 0.0003) and wound breakdown (² = 10.45, 1 d.f., p = 0.012) in the HIV group following laparotomy than in the non-HIV control group.

  Author Contacts

Peter A. Davis, MA, FRCS
8 Rotterdam Drive, Isle of Dogs
London E14 3JA (UK)
Tel./Fax +44 171 987 1602

  Article Information

Received: Received: June 30, 1997
Accepted: June 2, 1998
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 27