Electrocautery Versus Scalpel for Surgical Skin Incisions in Cesarean Section.

Saint Thomas Hospital (HST)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Surgical Wound Infection

Treatments: Procedure: Skin incision; Device: Electrocautery; Device: Scalpel

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02332252

MHST2014-10

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine the risk of surgical site infection after surgical skin incision, comparing electrocautery vs. scalpel.

Enrollment: 500 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Elective Cesarean section, regardless of gestational age.

Exclusion criteria

• Skin infection in the cesarean section area.
• Emergency cesarean section.
• Presence of a maternal pathology that increases the risk of infection (immunocompromised state).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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500 participants in 2 patient groups

Scalpel

Active Comparator group

Description:

Skin incision performed with a scalpel during cesarean section.

Treatment:

Device: Scalpel

Procedure: Skin incision

Electrocautery

Experimental group

Description:

Skin incision performed with an electrocautery during cesarean section.

Treatment:

Device: Electrocautery

Procedure: Skin incision