Identifying factors predictive of surgical-site infections after colectomy for fulminant ulcerative colitis

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) remain a major source of morbidity after colectomy for fulminant ulcerative colitis (UC). Identifying UC patients at elevated risk of developing SSIs might improve postoperative outcomes. Our goal was to identify preoperative factors, which could predict SSI development in the postoperative UC population. The records of 59 patients treated by colectomy for fulminant UC from 2004 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed and statistically analyzed. Few differences were observed between patients who developed postoperative complications and those who did not. Twenty patients sustained a total of 27 complications, with superficial SSIs being the single most common event. Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, white blood cell count >15 cells/mm ³, intraoperative blood loss >200 cc, and intraoperative blood transfusion to all be independent predictors for the development of postoperative SSIs. These four factors were all able to independently predict SSIs. Postoperative UC patients with these risk factors might benefit from heightened wound surveillance or closer follow-up.