A useful tip for preventing surgical site infections after hypospadias repair. A single surgeon's experience of 376 cases.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We report the efficacy of pre- and post-operative showering for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) and urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2006, standardised pre- and postoperative showering was introduced for hypospadias patients. Showering involves washing the genitals and groin 2 h preoperatively as well as immediately after the removal of a stent postoperatively. Data from 520 procedures performed on 376 hypospadias patients by a single surgeon from 1996 to 2015 were collected prospectively. The shower (S) group comprised 258 patients (372 procedures) and the nonshower group comprised 118 patients (148 procedures). Management protocols were identical for two groups. RESULTS: Patient demographics were similar. SSIs were significantly less in the S group (0% vs. 2.0%; P < 0.05). The incidence of fistulas was lower in the S group (2.0% vs. 6.3%). The mean duration of follow-up was significantly shorter in the S group (3.6 vs. 12.8 years; P < 0.05) but longer than the mean time taken for complications to develop (0.4 years). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that pre- and post-operative showering may contribute to preventing SSIs and fistulas in hypospadias patients.