Stitch TechniqueNCT07621926
Abdominal Midline Wound Closure: Small Tissue Bites Versus Large Tissue Bites
A study testing Small Stitch Closure Technique and Large Stitch Closure Technique in people with Stitch Technique, run by Indus Hospital and Health Network at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a small stitch technique works better than a large bite technique for closing midline abdominal surgery wounds in adults having midline laparotomy surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stitch Technique
- What is being tested?
- Small Stitch Closure Technique and Large Stitch Closure Technique
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 88 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 May 2025to 30 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- . Age 18-80 years, either sex
- Midline laparotomy (elective or emergency)
- ASA class I-IV
Who cannot join
- Previous incisional hernia or midline incision
- Contaminated surgery
- ASA V-VI
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a small stitch technique works better than a large bite technique for closing midline abdominal surgery wounds in adults having midline laparotomy surgery.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
Does the small stitch technique lower the risk of surgical site infection? Does the small stitch technique lower the risk of wound dehiscence (reopening of the wound)? Researchers will compare the small stitch technique with the large bite technique to see if the small stitch technique leads to fewer wound complications after surgery.
Participants will:
Have their abdominal wound closed using either the small stitch or large bite technique during surgery Attend follow-up visits at 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery Be checked for wound complications, including infection and wound reopening In the small stitch technique, stitches are placed 5 millimeters from the wound edge and 5 millimeters apart. In the large bite technique, stitches are placed 10 millimeters apart.
Read the detailed description
This clinical trial is designed to evaluate two different methods of closing abdominal wounds after midline laparotomy surgery in adults. A midline laparotomy is a common surgical procedure in which an incision is made along the middle of the abdomen to allow surgeons access to internal organs. Proper closure of this incision is important because complications such as infection or reopening of the wound can lead to pain, delayed recovery, longer hospital stays, and additional treatment.
The study focuses on comparing a "small stitch" technique with the more traditional "large bite" technique used to close the abdominal wall at the end of surgery. Researchers want to determine whether the small stitch method can improve healing and reduce complications after surgery.
In the small stitch technique, sutures are placed approximately 5 millimeters from the edge of the wound and spaced 5 millimeters apart. This approach is designed to distribute tension more evenly across the wound and may help preserve blood supply to the tissues, potentially improving healing. In the large bite technique, stitches are placed farther from the wound edge and farther apart, which is the conventional method commonly used in many surgical settings.
The main goals of the study are to determine:
Whether the small stitch technique reduces the risk of surgical site infections Whether the small stitch technique lowers the chance of wound dehiscence, a serious complication in which the surgical wound partially or completely reopens after surgery Adults undergoing midline laparotomy surgery may be eligible to participate. During the procedure, participants will have their abdominal incision closed using either the small stitch or the large bite technique. The method used will be assigned according to the study protocol so that researchers can fairly compare outcomes between the two groups.
After surgery, participants will continue with routine postoperative care and attend follow-up visits approximately 2 weeks and 1 month after their operation. At these visits, the surgical wound will be examined for signs of infection, delayed healing, wound reopening, pain, or other complications. Researchers will collect and compare the results from both groups to determine which closure method provides better outcomes.
The information gained from this study may help surgeons identify the safest and most effective way to close abdominal incisions, potentially improving recovery and reducing postoperative complications for future patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
- Conditions
- Stitch Technique
- Being tested
- Small Stitch Closure Technique, Large Stitch Closure Technique
- Keywords
- Abdominal midline wound closure, Short stitch technique, Large stitch technique
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Small Stitch Closure TechniqueProcedure or surgery
Also called Small Bite Closure Technique
In this technique, sutures are placed approximately 5 millimeters apart using a continuous suturing method.
Large Stitch Closure TechniqueProcedure or surgery
Also called Large Bite Closure Technique
In this technique, sutures are placed approximately 10 millimeters apart using a continuous suturing method.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Small Stitch Closure Technique | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will undergo abdominal wall closure using the small stitch technique following midline laparotomy surgery. Receives: Procedure: Small Stitch Closure Technique |
| Large Stitch Closure Technique | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will undergo abdominal wall closure using the large stitch technique following midline laparotomy surgery Receives: Procedure: Large Stitch Closure Technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sheath Dehiscence
Abdominal fascial (sheath) dehiscence, defined as partial or complete separation of the abdominal fascial closure with or without evisceration, assessed by clinical examination of the surgical wound by the treating surgical team. The outcome will be reported as the number of participants who develop fascial dehiscence during the follow-up period.
Measured: 30 days
Secondary outcomes (2)
Skin dehiscence
Postoperative skin wound dehiscence, defined as partial or complete separation of the skin edges of the surgical incision, assessed by standardized clinical wound examination performed during postoperative follow-up. The outcome will be reported as the number of participants who develop skin wound dehiscence.
Measured: 30 days
Southampton wound grading
normal healing, erythema, discharge, purulence
Measured: 30 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Jun 2026
- Study start1 May 2025
- Primary completion28 Feb 2026
- Study completion30 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Stitch TechniqueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 88 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Indus Hospital and Health Network
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Nazia Lodhi, MBBS, FCPS, Study director, Indus Hospital and Health Network
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07621926
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IHHN_IRB_2024_03_014
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 18 May 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Abdominal Midline Wound Closure: Small Tissue Bites Versus Large Tissue Bites
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07621926
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IHHN_IRB_2024_03_014
- Conditions
- Stitch Technique
- Keywords
- Abdominal midline wound closure, Short stitch technique, Large stitch technique
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 88 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Indus Hospital and Health NetworkUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a small stitch technique works better than a large bite technique for closing midline abdominal surgery wounds in adults having midline laparotomy surgery.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the small stitch technique lower the risk of surgical site infection? Does the small stitch technique lower the risk of wound dehiscence (reopening of the wound)? Researchers will compare the small stitch technique with the large bite technique to see if the small stitch technique leads to fewer wound complications after surgery.
Participants will:
Have their abdominal wound closed using either the small stitch or large bite technique during surgery Attend follow-up visits at 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery Be checked for wound complications, including infection and wound reopening In the small stitch technique, stitches are placed 5 millimeters from the wound edge and 5 millimeters apart. In the large bite technique, stitches are placed 10 millimeters apart.
Detailed description
This clinical trial is designed to evaluate two different methods of closing abdominal wounds after midline laparotomy surgery in adults. A midline laparotomy is a common surgical procedure in which an incision is made along the middle of the abdomen to allow surgeons access to internal organs. Proper closure of this incision is important because complications such as infection or reopening of the wound can lead to pain, delayed recovery, longer hospital stays, and additional treatment.
The study focuses on comparing a "small stitch" technique with the more traditional "large bite" technique used to close the abdominal wall at the end of surgery. Researchers want to determine whether the small stitch method can improve healing and reduce complications after surgery.
In the small stitch technique, sutures are placed approximately 5 millimeters from the edge of the wound and spaced 5 millimeters apart. This approach is designed to distribute tension more evenly across the wound and may help preserve blood supply to the tissues, potentially improving healing. In the large bite technique, stitches are placed farther from the wound edge and farther apart, which is the conventional method commonly used in many surgical settings.
The main goals of the study are to determine:
Whether the small stitch technique reduces the risk of surgical site infections Whether the small stitch technique lowers the chance of wound dehiscence, a serious complication in which the surgical wound partially or completely reopens after surgery Adults undergoing midline laparotomy surgery may be eligible to participate. During the procedure, participants will have their abdominal incision closed using either the small stitch or the large bite technique. The method used will be assigned according to the study protocol so that researchers can fairly compare outcomes between the two groups.
After surgery, participants will continue with routine postoperative care and attend follow-up visits approximately 2 weeks and 1 month after their operation. At these visits, the surgical wound will be examined for signs of infection, delayed healing, wound reopening, pain, or other complications. Researchers will collect and compare the results from both groups to determine which closure method provides better outcomes.
The information gained from this study may help surgeons identify the safest and most effective way to close abdominal incisions, potentially improving recovery and reducing postoperative complications for future patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Small Stitch Closure Technique | Active comparator | Procedure: Small Stitch Closure TechniqueParticipants in this arm will undergo abdominal wall closure using the small stitch technique following midline laparotomy surgery. |
| Large Stitch Closure Technique | Active comparator | Procedure: Large Stitch Closure TechniqueParticipants in this arm will undergo abdominal wall closure using the large stitch technique following midline laparotomy surgery |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- . Age 18-80 years, either sex
- Midline laparotomy (elective or emergency)
- ASA class I-IV
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Previous incisional hernia or midline incision
- Contaminated surgery
- ASA V-VI
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Small Stitch Closure TechniqueAlso: Small Bite Closure TechniqueIn this technique, sutures are placed approximately 5 millimeters apart using a continuous suturing method. | Procedure or surgery | Small Stitch Closure Technique |
| Large Stitch Closure TechniqueAlso: Large Bite Closure TechniqueIn this technique, sutures are placed approximately 10 millimeters apart using a continuous suturing method. | Procedure or surgery | Large Stitch Closure Technique |
Primary outcome
Sheath Dehiscence
Time frame: 30 days
Abdominal fascial (sheath) dehiscence, defined as partial or complete separation of the abdominal fascial closure with or without evisceration, assessed by clinical examination of the surgical wound by the treating surgical team. The outcome will be reported as the number of participants who develop fascial dehiscence during the follow-up period.
2 secondary outcomes
Skin dehiscence
Time frame: 30 days
Southampton wound grading
Time frame: 30 days
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jun 2026.
Related trials for Stitch Technique
Recruiting
HIP-STITCH (Wound Recovery After THA)
Wound Healing Disturbance of
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Nazia Lodhi, MBBS, FCPS study director
Indus Hospital and Health Network
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Small Stitch Closure Technique and Large Stitch Closure Technique in people with Stitch Technique, run by Indus Hospital and Health Network at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Sheath Dehiscence (time frame: 30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jun 2026.