Predictive factors for the formation of tape blisters: An observational, prognostic prospective study.

BACKGROUND

Tape blisters are common complications in the peri-lesional area of the surgical incision, forming below the layer of dressing adhesive applied and causing numerous complications for patients.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of the phenomenon, and to identify and quantify the main prognostic factors associated.

DESIGN

Multicentric, prognostic prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Shoulder Orthopaedic surgery, General surgery, Advanced Oncology therapies, Gastro-entero mininvasive surgery and Endocrine surgery.

PARTICIPANTS

One thousand and two patients who underwent chest, abdominal, upper limb and joint laparotomic surgery consecutively admitted to the surgical units involved, were included.

METHODS

Data regarding individual and patient care variables, such as intrinsic (e.g. age and gender) and extrinsic (e.g. surgery type and time) data were collected. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the variables which independently influenced the onset of the tape blister.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, patients who underwent chest (Odds Ratio = 8.99, 95% CI 5.33-15.13), and upper limb and joint surgery (Odds Ratio = 2.09, 95% CI 1.22-3.58) were more likely to develop tape blisters in the postoperative period, At the same time, having drainage (Odds Ratio = 1.98, 95% CI 1.11-3.53), being female (Odds Ratio = 1.56, 95% CI 1.01-2.44) and having a high Body Mass Index (BMI) score (Odds Ratio: 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11) were also predictors of tape blister formation.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher BMI score, chest, upper limb and joint surgery, female gender and the presence of drainage were predictive factors of the tape blister event while, in contrast with the literature, the type of dressing used in this study was not significantly associated with the event.