Objective: To determine whether or not the routine use of postoperative dressings prevents surgical site infection and wound dehiscence. Material and methods: Patients with clean or clean-contaminated (e.g. hernia, orchidectomy cystolithotomy, ureterolithotomy, appendectomy) sutured surgical wounds were randomised into two groups: those who did not receive postoperative dressings (the study group) and those who did (the control group). variables like adequate haemostasis, sterile techniques, obliteration of all wound cavities, and approximation of divided structures were not controlled for. Wounds were assessed after 6 and 24 hours, and on the third and fifth postoperative days for clinical signs of infection and dehiscence. Results: A total of 123 patients with 124 clean surgical wounds were recruited into the study. The mean age and ratio of men and women in each group were comparable. There was no significant difference in the rate of wound complications between the two groups: 4.76% for the study group and 4.92% for control. Conclusion: Based on these preliminary data, surgical wounds left open do not have an increased incidence of surgical site infection and wound dehiscence, compared with similar types of wounds dressed postoperatively. In a large teaching hospital, the extrapolated cost savings of dressing materials alone can be significant. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results. Conflict of interest: None.

BackgroundThere is unanimous agreement amongst hypospadias surgeons to use an intermediate layer to cover the neourethra. Dartos fascia and tunica vaginalis (TV) flaps are the most preferred tissues to be used. Tissue glue, sealants and biomaterials are also useful where there is a paucity of local tissue to cover the neourethra. But these blood-derived products have associated infectious and allergic risks. The autologous human platelet concentrate (APC) contains biologically active factors and is safe for wound healing and soft tissue reconstruction. It has been used by few surgeons as an intermediate layer in hypospadias repair. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to systematically compare the outcomes of hypospadias surgery in children with or without using APCs.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Meta-analysis protocol was registered with INPLASY. A systematic, detailed search was carried out by the authors in the electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, Google Scholar and clinical trial registry. Studies were selected and compared based on primary outcome measures like urethra-cutaneous fistula, meatal stenosis, wound infection and operative time. Statistical analysis was performed using a fixed-effect model, pooled risk ratio and I-2 heterogeneity.ResultsFour randomized studies with a total of 355 patients were included. Pooled analysis for outcome of urethra-cutaneous fistula (UCF) showed no significant difference between the groups with APC and without APC. Pooled analysis for the other outcome like meatal stenosis, wound infection and total complications showed a decrease in incidence of these complications in groups with APC.ConclusionThis meta-analysis shows that there is a reduction in the incidence of wound infection, meatal stenosis and total complications in patients where APC was used to cover the neourethra, although no such difference was observed in UCF rates.

Background: Hypospadias is among the common congenital anomalies in boys. Snodgrass urethroplasty is one of the most popular techniques for correcting distal and mid hypospadias. Although there is consensus among pediatric surgeons on using absorbable sutures for urethroplasty, there are no established guidelines about the suturing techniques (interrupted suturing [IS] or continuous suturing [CS]) for neourethra creation in Snodgrass urethroplasty. This analysis aims to compare the reported outcomes of both the urethroplasty suturing techniques. Materials and Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted as per the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses guidelines. A systematic, detailed search was carried out by the authors in the electronic databases – MEDLINE, PubMed Central, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Clinical Trial Registry. Studies were selected and compared based on primary outcomes – development of urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF), meatal stenosis, and secondary outcomes – wound infection, urethral stricture, and operative time. Statistical analysis was performed using a fixed-effect model, pooled risk ratio, and I 2 heterogeneity. Results: Five randomized studies with a total of 521 patients met our inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis for total complications, UCF, meatal stenosis, and wound infection showed no significant difference between the CS and IS groups. Subgroup analysis of patients with the use of polyglactin sutures showed a decrease in total complications and UCF in the IS group. Conclusion: There is no difference in total complication rates among the CS and the IS group with the use of absorbable sutures in Snodgrass urethroplasty; however, there is a decrease in the incidence of total complications and UCF in the IS group when polyglactin was preferred over polydioxanone suture for urethroplasty.

Simple ranula is a cystic swelling confined to the floor of mouth while plunging ranula presents with extension to the neck. Congenital ranula presenting with symptoms of feeding difficulties is a very rare occurrence. There is paucity of literature regarding the management of large congenital ranula. Varied treatment options are described for the management of ranula with variable recurrence rate. In paediatric and adult patients, ranula is considered as a type of extravasation cyst and removal of sublingual gland is advocated to remove the sources of extravasation. Congenital ranula is usually a variant of retention cyst and should be treated with marsupialisation or simple excision of cyst while cyst excision with sublingual sialadenectomy should be reserved for recurrent cases.