Incisional swelling following celiotomy in cats
Muir, P.; Goldsmid, S.E.; Simpson, D.J.; Bellenger, C.R.
Veterinary Record 132(8): 189-190
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8451804 Document Number: 420613
44 healthy female cats, less than 2-years-old and presented for ovariohysterectomy, were sequentially assigned to 2 groups. In group 1, 3/0 (2 metric) polydioxanone (PDS) was used to appose the linea alba after surgery using a simple continuous closure technique and the skin margins were apposed with interrupted cruciate sutures of 3/0 (2 metric) polypropylene (Prolene). In group 2, celiotomy closure was similar but an additional simple continuous 3/0 (2 metric) polydioxanone suture was inserted with buried knots to appose the subcutaneous tissue before skin closure. Incisional swelling was clinically graded on the day after surgery and on the day of suture removal (mean times from surgery to suture removal 10 days for group 1 and 11 days for group 2). On the day after surgery median and mean scores were 2 and 1.8 for group 2 and 1 and 1.4 for group 1. Most of the incisions in group 1 were graded 1 (no visible reaction) whereas most in group 2 were graded 2 (minimal swelling at the cranial or caudal end of the swelling). Both groups had 2 cats with grade 3 incisions (suture line inflammation 1 to 2 cm thick). At removal, mean and median scores for the groups were similar (3 and 2.5 for group 1, 2.5 and 2.6 for group 2). Most incisions were graded 2 or 3 but one cat in group 1 had a grade 4 incision (suture line inflammation greater than 2 cm thick). 2 cats in group 5 had grade 5 incisions (wound dehiscence and purulent discharge); these eventually healed after antibiotic treatment and wound lavage. The results of this pilot study suggest that the replacement of a subcutaneous suture during celiotomy closure may not be the preferred technique; work is in progress to obtain data from a larger number of cats.