European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SURGICAL WOUND INFECTION AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC BARIATRIC SURGERY: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT KING HUSSIEN MEDICAL HOSPITAL

*Abdalla Alshwabkeh MD, Mohammad Atrooz MD, Mohammad Alhroot MD, Musab Alworikat MD, Eyad Rawashdeh MD, Mohammad Alhuniti MD, Ramadan Hassanat MD and Majed Alqaisi MD

ABSTRACT

Background: Obesity is a global health crisis with increasing incidence worldwide. Traditional weight loss methods often yield inadequate long-term results. Bariatric surgery is recognized as the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, leading to a surge in demand. Objective: In this study, we aim to evaluate early postoperative outcomes, specifically the incidence of surgical wound infections (SWI), in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery at King Hussien Medical Hospital, Jordan. Methods: A prospective, single-center study was conducted over three years (June 2021 to July 2024), involving 400 patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age of patients was 44.0 years, with a mean preoperative BMI of 46.2 kg/m². Complications rates were low; SWI occurred in 0.5% of patients at 1-day and 0.8% at 2-weeks post-surgery. Common risk factors for SWI included high preoperative BMI and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery demonstrates a low rate of early postoperative complications, indicating effective management of risks. Further multicenter studies are necessary to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery, surgical wound infection, laparoscopy, obesity.