Predictors of surgical site infection in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease: a multicenter analysis using the national surgical quality improvement program data.

Study Objective: To estimate the rate and predictors of surgical site infection (SSI) after hysterectomy performed for benign indications and to identify any association between SSI and other postoperative complications.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.

Patients: Women who underwent abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy performed for benign indications from 2005 to 2011.

Interventions: Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of SSI and its association with other postoperative complications. Odds ratios were adjusted for patient demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, and operative factors.

Measurements And Main Results: Of 28 366 patients, 758 (3%) were diagnosed with SSI. SSI occurred more often after abdominal than laparoscopic hysterectomy (4% vs 2%; p < .001). Among patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy, predictors of SSI included diabetes, smoking, respiratory comorbidities, overweight or obesity, American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥ 3, perioperative blood transfusion, and operative time >180 minutes. Among those who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy, predictors of SSI included perioperative blood transfusion, operative time >180 minutes, serum creatinine concentration ≥ 2 mg/dL, and platelet count ≥ 350 000 cells/mL(3). For patients with deep or organ/space SSI, significant predictors included perioperative blood transfusion and American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥ 3 for abdominal hysterectomy, and non-white race, renal comorbidities, preoperative or perioperative blood transfusion, and operative time >180 minutes for laparoscopic hysterectomy. SSI was associated with longer hospital stay and higher rates of repeat operation, sepsis, renal failure, and wound dehiscence. SSI was not associated with increased 30-day mortality.

Conclusions: SSI occurred more often after abdominal hysterectomy than laparoscopic hysterectomy performed to treat benign gynecologic disease. SSI was associated with increased postoperative complications but not mortality. Several risk factors for SSI after each abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy were identified in this study.