Abstract

Background: Every year several million women have to undergo gynecological surgery. As a result of that they acquire an abdominal scar. Nowadays women of all ages place extreme importance on the appearance of the scar in addition to the symptoms of pain, tenderness and itching. An aesthetically poor scar can have a negative impact on the overall quality of life causing considerable distress, loss of self-esteem and unhappiness. The appearance of the scar is of significant importance and is often the only reminder of surgery. Aim of the Study: to compare between skin adhesive tape (steri-strips) and non-absorbable suture in closure of abdominal laparoscopic port sites. Patients and methods: The current prospective case control study was conducted at Ain Shams University maternity hospital .the participating women were randomly allocated into two arms .Arm (A): women had laparoscopic port sites closed with skin adhesive tape. Arm (B): women had laparoscopic port sites closed with non- absorbable sutures. Results: A total of 142 women were included. The overall incidence of pain was 0.1%and 0.2%, redness was 8.5% and 23.9%,hotness was 2.8% and 12.7%, discharge was 1.4% and 4.2%, impaired healing was 1.4% and 5.6% and satisfaction was 94.4%and 63.4% in arm A and B respectively. Conclusion: using skin adhesive tape (Steri Strep®) in closure of abdominal laparoscopic port sites is associated with a decreased risk of wound complications and increased rate of patient satisfaction

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