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Long-Term Outcome Study in Patients with Abdominal Wound Dehiscence: a Comparative Study on Quality of Life, Body Image, and Incisional Hernia

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

Long-term quality of life and body image of patients with abdominal wound dehiscence were assessed.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients with abdominal wound dehiscence from a prospectively followed cohort of 967 patients (2007–2009) were reviewed. Patients completed the Short Form 36 quality of life questionnaire and Body Image Questionnaire and participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. For each patient, four controls were matched by age and gender. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, comorbidity, and follow-up length.

Results

Of the 37 patients with abdominal wound dehiscence, 23 were alive after a mean follow-up of 40 months (range 33–49 months). Nineteen patients developed incisional hernias (83 %). Patients with abdominal wound dehiscence reported significantly lower scores for physical and mental component summaries (p = 0.038, p = 0.013), general health (p = 0.003), mental health (p = 0.011), social functioning (p = 0.002), and change (p = 0.034). No differences were found for physical functioning (p = 0.072), role physical (p = 0.361), bodily pain (p = 0.133), vitality (p = 0.150), and role emotional (p = 0.138). Patients with abdominal wound dehiscence reported lower body image scores (median 16.5 vs. 18, p = 0.087), cosmetic scores (median 13 vs. 16, p = 0.047), and total body image scores (median 30 vs. 34, p = 0.042).

Conclusions

At long-term follow-up, patients with abdominal wound dehiscence demonstrated a high incidence of incisional hernia, low body image, and low quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, ‘s Gravendijkwal 230, 3015, CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Gabrielle H. van Ramshorst, Hasan H. Eker, Jan A. van der Voet & Johan F. Lange

  2. Department of Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands

    Gabrielle H. van Ramshorst & Hasan H. Eker

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, ‘s Gravendijkwal 230, 3015, CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Johannes Jeekel

  4. Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, Room Ff-219, P.O. Box 2040, 3000, CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Gabrielle H. van Ramshorst

Authors
  1. Gabrielle H. van Ramshorst
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  2. Hasan H. Eker
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  3. Jan A. van der Voet
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  4. Johannes Jeekel
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  5. Johan F. Lange
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Correspondence to Gabrielle H. van Ramshorst.

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van Ramshorst, G.H., Eker, H.H., van der Voet, J.A. et al. Long-Term Outcome Study in Patients with Abdominal Wound Dehiscence: a Comparative Study on Quality of Life, Body Image, and Incisional Hernia. J Gastrointest Surg 17, 1477–1484 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2233-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2233-2

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