Non-closure of the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue at radical hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

We conducted a trial to assess the influence of closure or nonclosure of the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue on the clinical outcomes of cervical cancer patients who underwent radical hysterectomy with lower abdominal cross incision. This randomized controlled trial was performed on 158 cervical cancer patients in our hospital between January 2002 and June 2004. Eighty-two patients were allocated to the “closure” group and 76 patients to the “nonclosure” group. Results showed that non-closure of the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue could shorten operation time and febrile duration, reduce antibiotics requirement, increase the volume of drainage and decrease the incidence of liquefaction of subcutaneous fat (P<0.05). There was no difference in blood loss, postoperative complications, bowel function restoration and post-operative stay between the two groups (P>0.05). Our study revealed that closure of the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue provides no immediate postoperative benefits while unnecessarily lengthening surgical time and anesthesia exposure. The practice of closure of the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue at radical hysterectomy should be questioned.

Keywords

cervical cancer / radical surgery / peritoneum / subcutaneous tissue