Skin Wound Complications in High-Risk Surgery

High-risk surgery is accompanied by the frequent possibility of complications in the healing wound. These complications can range from severe surgical site infections (SSIs) to deep incisional dehiscence requiring an urgent return to the operating room. Normally wounds heal well, and abnormal healing is uncommon in healthy people. However, there are multiple risk factors that can significantly impact wound healing that the surgeon should consider before the operation. Compromised wound healing increases patient discomfort, prolongs hospitalization, and increases costs. Up to USD $10 billion is spent in the USA with just SSIs, besides other complications, and this burden is growing yearly due to the expanding incidence of obesity and diabetes. This chapter discusses strategies aiming to decrease wound healing complications with a focus on SSI.