Prophylactic central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine whether prophylactic CND for PTC affected long-term survival and locoregional control. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with bilateral prophylactic CND. They were compared with patients who had TT without CND. Personalized adjuvant radioiodine treatment was used in both groups. Primary outcomes were overall and disease-specific survival, and locoregional control. Secondary outcomes were number of patients with negative serum thyroglobulin levels, and morbidity. RESULTS: Of 640 patients with PTC included in this study, 282 (treated in 1993-1997) had TT without CND and 358 (treated in 1998-2002) underwent TT with CND. The 10-year disease-specific survival rate for patients who had TT without CND was 92·5 per cent compared with 98·0 per cent in patients with CND (P = 0·034), and the locoregional control rate was 87·6 and 94·5 per cent respectively (P = 0·003). In multivariable analysis, extrathyroidal extension was an independent predictive factor for locoregional recurrence (odds ratio 12·47, 95 per cent confidence interval 6·74 to 23·06; P < 0·001), whereas CND was an independent predictive factor for improved locoregional control at 10 years after surgery (odds ratio 0·21, 0·11 to 0·41; P < 0·001). No differences were seen in the rates of permanent hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between the groups. CONCLUSION: Bilateral prophylactic CND for staging of the neck in PTC, followed by personalized adjuvant radioiodine treatment, improved both 10-year disease-specific survival and locoregional control, without increasing the risk of permanent morbidity. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01510002 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Randomized clinical trial of bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy versus total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease with a 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The extent of thyroid resection in Graves' disease remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (BST) compared with total thyroidectomy (TT) in patients with Graves' disease and mild active ophthalmopathy. METHODS: Participants were assigned randomly to BST or TT, and followed for 5 years after surgery. The primary endpoints of the study were the prevalence of recurrent hyperthyroidism and changes in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Secondary endpoints were postoperative transient and permanent paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and postoperative hypocalcaemia and hypoparathyroidism. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were included, of whom 191 (BST 95, TT 96) completed the 5-year follow-up. Recurrent hyperthyroidism occurred in nine patients after BST and in none after TT (P = 0·002). Progression of Graves' ophthalmopathy was observed in nine patients after BST compared with seven following TT (P = 0·586). Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 13 and 24 patients respectively (P = 0·047). Permanent hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed in no patient after BST and in one after TT (P = 0·318). No differences were noted in transient or permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. CONCLUSION: TT for Graves' disease prevented recurrent hyperthyroidism but did not prevent the progression of ophthalmopathy compared with BST.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in video-assisted thyroidectomy: lessons learned from neuromonitoring.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to assess the mechanism of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT). METHODS: The study examined 201 nerves at risk (NAR). VAT with laryngeal neuromonitoring (LNM) was outlined according to this scheme: (a) preparation of the operative space; (b) vagal nerve stimulation (V1); (c) ligature of the superior thyroid vessels; (d) visualization, stimulation (R1), and dissection of the RLN; (e) extraction of the lobe; (f) resection of the thyroid lobe; (g) final hemostasis; (h) verification of the electrical integrity of the RLN (V2, R2). The site, cause, and circumstance of nerve injury were elucidated with the application of LNM. Laryngeal nerve injuries were classified into type 1 injury (segmental) and 2 (diffuse). RESULTS: Fourteen nerves (6.9 %) experienced loss of R2 and V2 signals. 80 percent of lesions occurred in the distal 1 cm of the course of the RLN. The incidence of type 1 and 2 injuries was 71 and 29 % respectively. The mechanisms of injury were traction (70 %) and thermal (30 %). Traction lesions were created during the extraction of the lobe from the mini-incision [point (e)]. Thermal injury occurred during energy-based device use in (f) and (g) circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: RLN palsy still occurs with routine endoscopic identification of the nerve, even combined with LNM. LNM has the advantage of elucidating the mechanism of RLN injury. Traction and thermal RLN injuries are the most frequent lesions in VAT.

Randomized clinical trial of visualization versus neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid surgery reduces injury, and that intraoperative nerve monitoring may be of additional benefit. METHODS: One thousand consenting patients scheduled to have bilateral thyroid surgery were randomized to standard protection or additional nerve monitoring. The primary outcome measure was prevalence of RLN injury. RESULTS: Of 1000 nerves at risk in each group, transient and permanent RLN injuries were found respectively in 38 and 12 nerves without RLN monitoring (P = 0.011) and 19 and eight nerves with RLN monitoring (P = 0.368). The prevalence of transient RLN paresis was lower in patients who had RLN monitoring by 2.9 per cent in high-risk patients (P = 0.011) and 0.9 per cent in low-risk patients (P = 0.249). The negative and positive predictive values of RLN monitoring in predicting postoperative vocal cord function were 98.9 and 37.8 per cent respectively. CONCLUSION: Nerve monitoring decreased the incidence of transient but not permanent RLN paresis compared with visualization alone, particularly in high-risk patients. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00661024 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Superiority of preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine before rather than after the creation of pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the optimal timing of preemptive analgesia with bupivacaine peritoneal instillation in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: In this study, 120 patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to four groups. Group A received 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine in 200 ml of normal saline before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group B received 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine in 200 ml of normal saline after creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group C received 200 ml of normal saline before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Group D received 200 ml of normal saline after creation of pneumoperitoneum. Local wound infiltration with bupivacaine was used before skin incisions. The primary end points of the study were postoperative pain intensity on a visual analog scale and incidence of shoulder tip pain. The secondary end points included the latency of nurse-controlled analgesia activation, the analgesia request rate, and analgesic consumption. RESULTS: Significantly lower visual analog scores were observed in group A versus groups C and B versus group D during the initial 48 and 24 h, respectively. The patients in group A versus group B reported significantly lower pain at 4 h (p < 0.001) and 8 h (p = 0.003) postoperatively, but the difference was not significant after 12, 24, and 48 h. None of the group A patients reported shoulder tip pain, whereas it was reported by 3 patients in group B, 6 patients in group C, and 7 patients in group D (p < 0.01). The latency of nurse-controlled analgesia activation was 426.8 +/-57.2 min in group A, as compared with 307 +/- 39.8 min in group B, 109.3 +/- 51 min in group C, and 109 +/- 46.5 min in group D (p < 0.001). A significantly lower analgesia request rate was observed in group A versus C, as compared with group B versus D, throughout the entire study period (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with bupivacaine peritoneal instillation is much more effective for pain relief if used before creation of pneumoperitoneum. Although the effect of bupivacaine peritoneal instillation is also noticeable when used after creation of pneumoperitoneum, it confers significantly lower benefits.

A prospective randomized trial on comparison of low-pressure (LP) and standard-pressure (SP) pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of LP (7 mmHg) in comparison to SP (12 mm Hg) pneumoperitoneum in a prospective randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 148 consecutive patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) due to uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized to either SPLC or LPLC. All the procedures were performed by the same experienced team of surgeons. The statistical analysis included sex, mean age, body mass index, ASA grade, operative time, complication rate, conversion rate, postoperative pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS) including the incidence of shoulder-tip pain, postoperative hospital stay, recovery time, and the quality of life (QOL) within 7 days following the operation. p <0.05 was considered as indicative of significance. RESULTS: Neither conversion to an open procedure nor major complications occurred in either group. The operative time was similar in both groups (LP 55.7 +/- 8.6 min vs SP 51.9 +/- 8.3 min). The mean postoperative pain score was 6.18 +/- 3.48 lower after LP than SPLC and the difference amounted to 22.2% (p <0.005). The incidence of shoulder-tip pain was 2.1 times lower after LP than SPLC (p <0.05). QOL within 7 days following the operation was remarkably better after LPLC than after SPLC (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: LP pneumoperitoneum is superior to SP pneumoperitoneum in terms of lower postoperative pain, a lower incidence of shoulder-tip pain, and a better QOL within 5 days following the operation. LP should be used for LC in cases of uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones as a recommended procedure as long as an adequate exposure is obtained with this technique.

Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum combined with intraperitoneal saline washout for reduction of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: We designed a prospective randomized clinical trial to investigate whether intraperitoneal saline washout combined with a low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (LPSW) was superior to low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (LP) alone as a means of reducing postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in the early recovery period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: A total of 124 consecutive patients undergoing LC due to uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized to the LP or LPSW group. In the LPSW group, normal saline at body temperature (25 ml/kg of body weight) was irrigated under the diaphragm. The fluid was evacuated via the passive-flow method through a 16-F closed drain left under the liver for 24 h. We then assessed the intensity of total abdominal postoperative pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), including the incidence of shoulder-tip pain (STP), total daily analgesia demand rate, analgesic consumption. Quality of life (QOL) within 7 days after the operation was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean postoperative pain score was lower by 2.64 +/- 0.86 in the LPSW; the difference equaled 9.64% (p < 0.05). The incidence of STP was lower in the LPSW group (LP 11.29% vs LPSW 1.6%; p = 0.028). The analgesia demand rate was remarkably lower in LPSW vs LP within 24 and 48 h postoperatively (70.96% vs 90.32%; p = 0.006 and 64.51% vs. 83.87%; p = 0.013, respectively). After LPSW vs LP, QOL was better in terms of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and bodily pain (90.32% vs 77.42%; p = 0.05, 90.32% vs 75.8%; p = 0.03, 91.93% vs 74.19%; p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: In terms of lower postoperative pain and a better QOL within the early recovery period, LPSW is superior to LP alone. The saline washout procedure should be recommended during LC because it is a simple way to reduce pain intensity, even after LP operations.

[Evaluation of autonomic nervous system function with heart rate variability analysis in patients with hyperthyroidism and during euthyroidism after pharmacologic and surgical treatment]. / Ocena czynnosci ukladu autonomicznego metoda analizy zmiennosci rytmu serca u chorych z nadczynnoscia tarczycy oraz w przebiegu eutyreozy farmakologicznej i pooperacyjnej.

The aim of the present study was both to estimate autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in patients with hyperthyroidism by the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis and to evaluate the impact of pharmacological and surgical treatment on the ANS function. Analysis of the HRV underwent 10 female patients in course of thyreotoxicosis and after reaching full clinical and biochemical euthyroidism, after pharmacological therapy and in month after surgical treatment. The 10 minutes records at rest, in horizontal position were evaluated. The HRV parameters like mean of the heart rate, mean of RR intervals, standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN), range of the heart rate variability, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) components of the heart rate power spectral density and LF/HF ratio were assessed. The results were compared to those obtained from 10 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched control subjects. The statistical significance (p < 0.05) was found in reduction of range of RR intervals, in increase of LF/HF ratio and in decrease of SDNN in hyperthyroidism in comparison to the control group (151.6/346.8 ms; 2.4/0.74; 24.4/57.2 ms2). In course of pharmacological euthyroidism there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase of range of RR intervals, reduction of LF/HF ratio and increase of SDNN in comparison to hyperthyroidism (270/151.6 ms; 0.995/2.4; 39/24.4 ms2). In euthyroidism after surgical treatment all the above parameters kept the similar levels as in pharmacological euthyroidism (no statistical significance for p < 0.05). On the base of the outcomes it was considered that in hyperthyroid patients there is advantage of sympathetic part of ANS over parasympathetic one which is due to sharp reduction of parasympathetic system activity. Pharmacological therapy with thyreostatics normalises balance of ANS to the level of the control group and after surgical treatment the balance keeps the same. Moreover, in the estimation of ANS as important as LF/HF ratio is the mean range of RR intervals.

[The role of the autonomic nervous system on malfunction of gastric motor and myoelectric activity in patients with hyperthyroidism]. / Rola ukladu autonomicznego w zaburzeniach czynnosci motorycznej i mioelektrycznej zoladka u chorych z nadczynnoscia tarczycy.

The aim of this study was to determine both the type of gastric mioelectric and emptying disorders in correlation to degree of severity of hyperthyroidism (clinical and thyroid hormones' blood levels) and ANS function estimated in HRV analysis. The study was performed on a group of 50 patients (35 with multinodular toxic goitre and 15 with Graves' disease, 45 females and 5 males, mean age 39.6 years, mean BMI 23.72) with newly diagnosed and so far untreated hyperthyroidism. The control group were 50 healthy volunteers age-, sex-, and BMI-matched to the studied group. Patients were studied twice, within newly diagnosed thyreotoxicosis and after treatment (Metizol) and reaching stable euthyroid state. The study consisted of: a) percutaneous EGG analysis (Synectics): 30 minutes before and after a test meal (ENRICH Liquid 250 ml), b) HRV analysis (ECG POSTER 2002): 10 minutes at rest and during deep breathing test, c) ultrasound measurement of gastric emptying by Bolondi method. Statistical analysis of collected data was performed. In hyperthyroid patients significant both preprandial and postprandial dysrhythmia (33.01% of bradygastria and 16.49% of tachygastria) was found. In some patients decrease of amplitude of EGG signal was marked as a result of antral hypomotility with coexisting significantly prolonged gastric emptying (110 min). Among severe hyperthyroid patients both the antral food distribution (antrum 35% bigger than in a control group) and impaired proximal stomach relaxation were evident. The degree of gastric mioelectric activity and emptying disorders was proportional to the degree of both severity of clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism in Zgliczynski scale (from I degree to III degrees) and free thyroid hormones' blood levels (positive correlation). In HRV analysis at rest in hyperthyroid patients comparing to a control group the decrease of both the heart rate variability and a total power was found particularly in HF component resulting in relative sympathetic activation. In HRV analysis during deep breathing test the decrease of heart rate variability was present mostly in LF component. It indicates on reduction of vagal regulation (and vagal excitability) of sinus node and gastric pacemaker function. Coexistence of the increase and decrease of a gastric basic electrical rhythm with delay of gastric emptying indicates on a complex mechanism of their formation. Both neurogenic regulation dysfunction and primary miogenic autoregulation disorders as a result of tyreotoxicosis seem to be the possible causes. All the found changes were functional and disappeared after reaching the stable euthyroid state within 3 months of pharmacological treatment.

[Is surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy reasonable?]. / Czy leczenie operacyjne nadczynnosci tarczycy u ciezarnych jest uzasadnione?

Hyperthyroidism is second to diabetes mellitus as the most common endocrinopathy in pregnancy. It is usually caused by Graves' disease. The appropriate treatment is the only way to prevent the incidence of dangerous complications both to mother and foetus, including thyrotoxic crisis. Most cases of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can be successfully treated with thyrostatics (propylotiouracil, methylotiouracil in the lowest efficient doses). However, the surgical treatment (sub-total thyroidectomy within the second trimester of gestation, soon after the euthyroid state following short medication is reached) is still an elective approach in selected cases: 1) allergy to antithyroid drugs, 2) large compressive goitre, 3) suspicion of thyroid cancer, 4) patients who require large doses of antithyroid drugs to reach and sustain euthyroid state, 5) poor patient compliance, 6) extremely rare resistance to antithyroid drugs. The study included 24 cases of pregnant women, who underwent surgery due to hyperthyroidism. The analysis of indications to surgery and postoperative pregnancy, birth and puerperium course was performed. All the patients gave birth on time to healthy children. No negative influence of neither preoperative antithyroid treatment nor surgical procedure on pregnancy delivery, further psychomotoric children's development and health was found during 36 months (+/- 20 months) of postoperative follow up. It indicates on usefulness, efficacy and safety of surgical treatment in selected cases of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy.

[Parathyroid neoplasm--diagnostic challenge and therapeutic difficulty]. / Rak przytarczyc--wyzwanie diagnostyczne i problem terapeutyczny.

The paper presents current diagnostic and therapeutic approach in parathyroid cancer. The suspicion of parathyroid cancer should be taken into account in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism symptoms (and elevated total and ionised calcium blood level and PTH blood level), present palpable cervical mass and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Further diagnosis should be based on ultrasound of the neck (including power-Doppler ultrasound), subtraction 99mTc-MIBI and 123J scintigraphy, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, and CT or MRI if necessary to assess the stage of the process. The elective surgical procedure should be primary 'en block' excision of the tumour with the unilateral thyroid lobe and the following loco-regional adjuvant radiotherapy. Patients who underwent surgical treatment due to parathyroid cancer require long-term follow-up as the risk of local recurrence or distant metastases (mostly into lungs or bones) remains high even many years after initial operation. Patients with dissemination usually suffer from severe hypercalcemia leading to death if untreated correctly. Thus, so crucial is effective treatment of hypercalcemia (diuresis, biphosphonates, calcitonine, oktreotide).

Current management of thyroid cancer--a change of therapeutic strategy over the last 20 years.

A radical change of epidemiological structure of thyroid cancer incidence in Poland has been reported for few years. The total incidence of thyroid cancer is successively increasing, mostly in form of well differentiated thyroid cancer, especially papillary cancer. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to thyroid cancer have also changed. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration has become the first choice procedure in diagnostics of thyroid cancer. Careful assessment of prognostic factors is no longer helpful in choice of selective surgical procedure in thyroid cancer as elective total thyroidectomy is widely recommended. In well differentiated thyroid cancer a complementary treatment with radioiodine is mandatory in most cases. Own experience in treatment of thyroid cancer presented in the paper is based on over 520 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer treated in a single department specialised in endocrine surgery during last 20 years. Successive changes in epidemiological structure of thyroid cancer incidence as well as the evolution of diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm in thyroid cancer are presented in details. Radical surgical treatment of thyroid cancer is still a fundamental part of a complex treatment of thyroid cancer.

[Postoperative wound infections. III. Patient related risk factors]. / Zakazenia ran pooperacyjnych. Czesc III. Czynniki ryzyka zwiazane z chorym.

UNLABELLED: A nosocomial infection is determined by plenty of factors, such as a kind of flora and its virulence, hygiene standard, efficacy of material and instruments sterilisation, technical terms of work organisation in hospital, and other staff and patient related factors. The aim of this study was to establish the risk factors of postoperative wound infection related to patient. The material was 1527 surgically treated patients in the 3rd Surgical Department of the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University during one year. 66 patients with wounds of the head and 7 patients who died within three days after surgery without any wound infection signs were excluded from the study population. The healing of each wound was observed during the patient's hospitalisation and 30 days after his discharge from hospital, and in orthopedic patients 6 months after discharge. The total number of 132 infected wounds was identified. The population of 1352 wounds healed without any complications was a control group. All the data were recorded in a Wound Infection Register Card and were collected in the computer database. The data were statistically analysed. Relationships between single factor and postoperative wound infection were evaluated using chi-square statistics and in the small group Fisher's exact probability test. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed for all variables. The overall wound infection rate was 8.9%. The significant factors (p < 0.05) were radiotherapy prior to operation, malnutrition, renal failure, respirator treatment, colostomy, tracheostomy in contaminated wounds and neoplastic disease in dirty wounds. Antibiotic therapy and the presence of remote active infection at the time of operation were found also risk factors. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant risk factors of the postoperative wound infection related to patient's condition appeared malnutrition, radiotherapy prior to surgery, renal failure, artificial ventilation, presence of colostomy and coexisting another nosocomial infection at the operation.

[Postoperative wound infections. IV. Flora and clinical course of postoperative wound infection]. / Zakazenia ran pooperacyjnych. Czesc IV. Flora oraz przebieg kliniczny zakazenia rany pooperacyjnej.

Each wound infection may be coursed in few clinical manifestations and may concern either skin with subcutaneous tissue (superficial infection) or deeper layers-fascias, muscles (deep infection). The aim of this study was to evaluate the form of infection and its clinical course, and moreover, to find the specific flora of infected wounds. The material was 1527 surgically treated patients in the 3rd Surgical Department of the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University during one year. 66 patients with wounds of the head and 7 patients who died within first three days after surgery without wound infection signs were excluded from the study population. The healing of each wound was observed during the patient's hospitalisation and 30 days after discharge from hospital, and in orthopedic patients 6 months after discharge. The total number of 132 infected wounds was identified. The population of 1352 wounds healed without any complications was a control group. All the data were recorded in a Wound Infection Register Card and were collected in the computer database. The data were statistically analysed. Relationships between single factors and postoperative wound infection were evaluated using chi-square statistics and in the small number Fisher's exact probability test. Analysis of variance was used for continuous variables. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed for all variables. Postoperative wound infection was found in 132 (8.9%) cases, including 76 (57.6%) in males and 56 (42.4%) in females. The average age was 50.9 years. The period of hospitalisation ranged from 3 to 119 days, with the mean of 31.9 days in comparison to 16.3 days in the control group.

[Ectopic pancreas treated surgically as a suspected gastric polyp]. / Trzustka dodatkowa operowana z rozpoznaniem polipa zoladka.

A very rare case is described in which the preoperative diagnosis was: gastric polyp, and the histological examination done intraoperatively demonstrated accessory pancreas.

[Postoperative wound infections. I. Population data and risk factors]. / Zakazenia ran pooperacyjnych. Czesc I. Dane ogólne i czynniki ryzyka.

UNLABELLED: Postoperative wound infection is one of the most essential problems in surgical department related to surgery. The occurrence of infection depends on different factors related to both, the patient and his disease, and treatment organisation as well. The aim of this study was to establish the postoperative wound infection rate and to assess the correlations between age, sex, wound contamination, time and mode of operation, type of anaesthesia, duration of preoperative hospitalisation, wound drainage and the season of the year and development of postoperative wound infections. Patients undergoing surgery in the 3rd Surgical Department of the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University during one year were prospectively investigated. From the study population, 66 patients with, wounds of the head and 7 patients who died within three days after surgery without wound infection signs were excluded. The healing of each wound was observed during the patient's hospitalisation and 30 days after discharge from hospital, and in orthopedic patients 6 months after discharge. The total number of 132 infected wounds was identified. The population of 1352 wounds healed without any complications was a control group. All the data were recorded in a Wound Infection Register Card and were collected in the computer database. The data were statistically analysed. Relations between single factor and postoperative wound infection were evaluated using chi2 statistics and in the small number Fisher's exact probability test. Analysis of variance for continuous variables was used. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed for all variables. The overall wound infection rate was 8.9%. The mean hospitalisation time was 18 days and was doubled in the group with wound infection (p < 0.001). The mean age of the whole population was 48.1.77 (5.2%) patients died after surgery. The relationship between sex, duration and mode of operation, duration of preoperative stay in hospital, wound contamination, kind of wound drainage and postoperative wound infection rate was significant. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The time of hospitalisation was twice longer in the infected group of patients with infected wounds in comparison to the control group. 2. Male sex, longer preoperative stay in hospital, duration of operation longer than one hour, emergency mode of operation, contaminated and dirty infected operation in traditional wound classification system and open (passive) drainage were statistically significant factors which influenced occurrence of postoperative wound infection.