Objective:
To test the hypothesis that subcutaneous wound oxygen tension (PsqO2) has a predictive relation to the development of wound infection in surgical patients.
Design:
A noninterventional, prospective study.
Setting:
A university department of surgery.
Patients:
One hundred thirty operative general surgical patients at notable risk of infection as predicted by an anticipated Study on the Effect of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC) score of 1 or greater.
Outcome Measures:
PsqO2 was measured perioperatively. Its relation to the subsequent incidence of surgical wound infection was then determined and compared with the SENIC score as a criterion standard.
Results:
Although the SENIC score and PsqO2 are inversely correlated, PsqO2 is the stronger predictor of infection. Low PsqO2 identified patients at risk and concentrated them in a cohort that was about half the size of that identified by the SENIC score.
Conclusions:
Subcutaneous perfusion and oxygenation are important components of immunity to wound infections. The SENIC score identifies systemic physiological variables that are important to the development of wound infection. Nevertheless, PsqO2More-he more powerful predictor of wound infection. Moreover, PPsqO can be manipulated by available clinical means, and thus may direct interventions to prevent infection.Arch Surg. 1997;132:997-1004