METHODS: In this multicentre RCT conducted between September 2020 and March 2022, patients aged 13 years and older with perforated appendicitis undergoing open appendicectomy were randomly assigned to receive peritoneal and wound lavage with either super-oxidized solution or normal saline. The primary outcome was surgical-site infection within 30 days after surgery. Randomization was computer-generated, with allocation concealment by opaque, sequentially numbered, sealed envelope. The patients, surgeons, outcome assessors and statisticians performing the analysis were blinded to treatment assigned.
RESULTS: A total of 102 consecutive patients (51 in the super-oxidized solution group and 51 in the normal saline group) were randomized and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The super-oxidized solution group showed a significant reduction in overall surgical-site infection (8 (15.6%) versus 19 (37.2%); relative risk (RR) 0.42; 95% c.i. 0.20 to 0.87; P = 0.014), and superficial surgical-site infection (5 (9.8%) versus 18 (35.3%); RR 0.28; 95% c.i. 0.11 to 0.69; P = 0.002), with a number-needed-to-treat of four patients. There were no adverse events in either group.
CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal and wound lavage with super-oxidized solution is superior to normal saline in preventing surgical-site infection after open appendicectomy for perforated appendicitis.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT04512196.
METHODS: Data were prospectively collected over 6 months (October 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021) with 1-month follow-up. In October 2020, Delta variant of SARS CoV-2 was isolated for the first time. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed and reported according to the STROBE guidelines. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who had COVID-19 were compared with those who did not.
RESULTS: A total of 2893 patients, from 42 countries, 218 centers, involved, with a median age of 61.3 (SD: 17.39) years were prospectively enrolled in this study; 1481 (51%) patients were males. One hundred and eighty (6.9%) patients were COVID-19 positive, while 2412 (93.1%) were negative. Concomitant preexisting diseases including cardiovascular diseases (p