Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2012; 18(7): 673-678
Published online Feb 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i7.673
Table 1 Types and definitions of wound complications
TypesDefinitions
SeromaSerous fluid collection in the absence of infection
HematomaSubcutaneous blood in the absence of infection
Wound infectionDisplayed two or more of the following characteristics: drainage of purulent material, erythema, tenderness, induration or fever
Wound dehiscence(1) Hematoma, seroma, or infection that required that the incision be opened, evacuated, and/or irrigated and debrided;
(2) Status that required packing and healing by secondary intention
Table 2 Characteristics of patients according to the nutritional risk index on the 5th postoperative day
CharacteristicNRI
P value
< 97.597.5All
(n = 566, 84.6%)(n = 103, 15.4%)(n = 669)
Gender, n (%)Male346 (61)86 (83)4320.0001
Female220 (39)17 (17)237
Age, mean ± SD57.15 ± 11.754.70 ± 9.6956.77 ± 11.440.0352
Disease progression, n (%)EGC307 (54)72 (70)3790.0031
AGC259 (46)31 (30)290
Type of operation, n (%)B-I355 (63)89 (86.4)4440.0001
B-II61 (11)5 (4.9)66
TG150 (26)9 (8.7)159
Comorbid diseases, n (%)Hypertension130 (23)29 (28.1)1590.3651
Diabetes mellitus66 (11.7)20 (19.4)86
Pulmonary tuberculosis22 (3.9)7 (6.8)29
Cardiovascular diseases13 (2.3)3 (2.9)16
Hepatitis40 (7.1)5 (4.8)45
Others18 (3)1 (1)19
None277 (50)38 (36.9)315
Postoperative hospital stay (d, mean ± SD)12.76 ± 4.0212.01 ± 2.4512.64 ± 3.820.1602
Postoperative wound complication, n (%)62 (10.9)4 (3.8)66 (9.86)0.0271
Table 3 Relationship between patient characteristics and occurrence of wound complications
CharacteristicWound complication
P value
(-)(+)All
(n = 603)(n = 66)(n = 669)
Gender, n (%)Male393 (65.2)39 (59.1)4320.3271
Female210 (34.8)27 (40.9)237
Age, mean ± SD56.57 ± 11.258.62 ± 13.256.77 ± 11.440.1642
Disease progression, n (%)EGC346 (57.4)33 (50)3790.2511
AGC257 (42.6)33 (50)290
Type of operation, n (%)B-I404 (67)40 (60.6)4440.2531
B-II61 (10)5 (7.6)66
TG138 (23)21 (31.8)159
Comorbid diseases, n (%)Hypertension142 (23.5)17 (25.8)1590.7221
Diabetes mellitus73 (12.1)20 (30.3)93
Pulmonary tuberculosis26 (4.3)7 (10.6)33
Cardiovascular diseases16 (2.7)0 (0)16
Hepatitis40 (6.6)5 (7.6)45
Others17 (2.8)2 (3)19
None289 (48)15 (22.7)304
Postoperative hospital stay (d, mean ± SD)12.24 ± 3.2516.38 ± 6.10412.64 ± 3.820.0002
NRI, n (%)NRI < 97.5504 (83.6)62 (93.9)5660.0271
NRI ≥ 97.599 (16.4)4 (6.1)103
Table 4 Distribution of types of wound complications according to the nutritional risk index
NRI
< 97.5n = 6297.5n = 4
Seroma360
Hematoma40
Wound infection90
Wound dehiscence134
Total624
Table 5 Multivariate analysis of characteristics of patients with wound complications by logistical regression
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Age (≥ 56.77 vs < 56.77)1.299 (0.829-2.035)0.253
Gender (male vs female)1.253 (0.795-1.976)0.330
Disease progression (AGC vs EGC)1.363 (0.873-2.127)0.157
Surgical methods:0.400
B-II vs B-I0.839 (0.365-1.930)0.679
TG vs B-I1.511 (0.920-2.483)0.103
Comorbid diseasesNS
NRI ( ≥ 97.5 vs < 97.5)0.653 (0.326-0.974)0.014