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Skin Staples vs Polypropylene in Elective Laparotomy

NCT07781878 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 130

Last updated 2026-08-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common postoperative complications following elective laparotomy and contributes significantly to patient morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and increased healthcare costs. Various techniques are available for skin closure, including skin staples and polypropylene sutures; however, evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness remains inconsistent, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare skin staples with polypropylene sutures for skin closure following elective laparotomy. Eligible adult patients undergoing elective laparotomy at the Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either skin staples or polypropylene sutures.

The primary outcomes are skin closure time and incidence of surgical site infection within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes include wound dehiscence, postoperative pain, cosmetic scar appearance, patient satisfaction, and duration of hospital stay.

The findings will provide evidence regarding the optimal skin closure technique for elective laparotomy in the Pakistani population.

Conditions

  • Surgical Site Infection

Interventions

DEVICE

Skin staples

Disposable stainless steel skin staples will be used for skin closure following elective laparotomy. Skin closure will be performed according to the standard surgical technique of the Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), immediately after completion of fascial closure.

DEVICE

Polypropylene skin suture

Skin closure will be performed using interrupted polypropylene (Prolene) sutures following elective laparotomy according to the standard surgical technique of the Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences

    lead OTHER_GOV

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
15 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-01-31
Primary Completion
2026-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07781878 on ClinicalTrials.gov