Timing of Cesarean Wound Dressing Removal on Wound Healing in Women With BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²

September 23, 2026 updated by: Mohamed Tawfik Abdelmalek Gomaa, Assiut University

Effect of Cesarean Wound Dressing Removal Timing on Wound Healing in Women With BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²

Cesarean delivery is one of the most common surgical procedures in obstetric care. Women with obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m² or higher) are at increased risk for postoperative wound complications, including surgical site infections, fluid collections (seroma/hematoma), and wound separation. Postoperative wound dressings protect the surgical incision, but the optimal timing for dressing removal remains uncertain, particularly for high-risk patients.

The purpose of this prospective cohort study is to compare wound healing and the occurrence of surgical site infections between two standard dressing removal schedules in women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² undergoing cesarean delivery.

Participants are observed in one of two groups according to standard hospital practice:

  • Group 1: The sterile wound dressing is removed at approximately 48 hours after surgery.
  • Group 2: The sterile wound dressing is removed at approximately 5 days after surgery.

Following dressing removal, incisions are assessed for signs of infection, drainage, swelling, and healing progress. The study aims to provide evidence on whether earlier dressing removal at 48 hours is safe and effective compared to delayed removal at 5 days in women with obesity.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
726

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women aged 18 to 35 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² undergoing cesarean delivery via a Pfannenstiel skin incision at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University Hospitals, and Malawi Specialized Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women aged 18 to 35 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² measured before cesarean delivery or at admission
  • Undergoing cesarean delivery with a Pfannenstiel skin incision and primary skin closure

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pre-existing infection or inflammation at the planned incision site
  • Active systemic infection or fever prior to surgery
  • Clinical or subclinical chorioamnionitis
  • Major intraoperative contamination of the surgical field
  • Significant preoperative bleeding or anemia
  • Known bleeding or coagulation disorders that may significantly affect wound healing
  • Major postoperative complications requiring additional abdominal surgery
  • Inability or unwillingness to attend scheduled follow-up visits

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
48-Hour Dressing Removal

Women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² undergoing cesarean delivery with a Pfannenstiel skin incision whose standardized sterile wound dressing is removed at approximately 48 hours after surgery, followed by clinical wound inspection under aseptic conditions and routine postoperative care.
5-Day Dressing Removal

Women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² undergoing cesarean delivery with a Pfannenstiel skin incision whose standardized sterile wound dressing is removed at approximately 5 days after surgery, followed by clinical wound inspection under aseptic conditions and routine postoperative care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
Time Frame: Up to 48 hours after dressing removal

Number of participants diagnosed with a surgical site infection (SSI) at the Pfannenstiel incision site. Assessment is performed using a standardized clinical wound-assessment form evaluating the presence of purulent discharge, localized erythema, heat, edema, or wound separation.
Up to 48 hours after dressing removal

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Cesarean Wound Dressing Timing

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