Seasonal Impact on Surgical-Site Infections in Body Contouring Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 602 Patients over a Period of 6 Years

Dominik Duscher, David Kiesl, Matthias Michael Aitzetmüller, Raphael Wenny, Karl Schableger, Clement Johannes Staud, Michael Stefan Pollhammer, Andreas Shamiyeh M D, Georg M Huemer

Research output: Journal article (peer-reviewed)Journal article

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Postoperative surgical-site infections are severe complications following body contouring surgery. Here, the authors evaluate whether surgical-site infection rates are influenced by higher temperatures during the summer season.

METHODS: We enrolled 602 patients who underwent body contouring surgery between 2009 and 2015 in a retrospective cohort study. Data collected included demographics, surgical data, and postoperative outcome. Body contouring surgery procedures included lower and upper body lift, abdominoplasty, breast reduction, mastopexy, brachioplasty, and thigh lift. Infection rates were calculated on a seasonal basis and compared using Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: There were 136 patients (125 women and 11 men) in the warm season [June to August; with an average temperature of 67.622°F (19.79°C)] and 466 patients (438 women and 28 men) in the cold seasons group [September to May, with an average temperature of 45.45 °F (7.47°C)]. The composition of the study cohorts was comparable. The average age was 40 years and the average body mass index was 27 kg/m. From a total of 602 patients, the authors observed 33 surgical-site infections, representing a rate of 5.48 percent. A statistically significant increase of postoperative surgical-site infections could be detected during summer (10.29 percent versus 4.08 percent; p = 0.0071), representing an increase of 150 percent. In addition, a logistic regression analysis determined "season" as the strongest predictor for surgical-site infections, with a risk increase of 2.693 times in the warm season.

CONCLUSIONS: Body contouring operations are elective procedures, making careful risk consideration an absolute prerequisite. The authors demonstrate a significantly increased infection risk during summer and establish a causal link between the warm season and surgical-site infection accumulation. Consequently, preoperative patient information and operative planning should be adjusted accordingly.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)653-660
Number of pages8
JournalPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Volume142
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2018

Keywords

  • Abdominoplasty
  • Adult
  • Austria
  • Body Contouring
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature/adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mammaplasty
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Surgical Wound Infection/epidemiology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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