The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Up and down or side to side? A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the impact of incision on outcomes after abdominal surgery. Am J Surg 2013; 206: 400-409.

Published: 10th January 2014

Authors: Bickenbach KA, Karanicolas PJ, Ammori JB, Jayaraman S, Winter JM, Fields RC et al. et al.

Conclusion

Twenty-four studies were included. Patients who had transverse incisions needed less postoperative narcotic analgesia, had less respiratory compromise ( forced expiratory volume), and had lower incisional hernia rates (relative risk for midline incision 1.77, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.09 to 2.87).

Pubmed Link