Infra-red thermal imaging of the surgical wound: ver 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Thermal Imaging of the human abdomen: Feasibility of infrared thermography for wound surveillance in women with Caesarean section
IRAS ID
138142
Contact name
Charmaine Childs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Surgical site infection (SSI) is the third most frequent healthcare-associated infection, leading to an increased risk of complications with a great demand on NHS resources. Within obstetric care, caesarean section is the single most important risk factor for postpartum maternal infection, increasing the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. Although the use of prophylactic antibiotics both before and after C-section is currently recommended, concerns over antibiotic resistance and lack of objective methods to assess wound infection is a considerable challenge, affecting quality of care. This justifies the need for research to advance techniques for wound tracking and infection surveillance to enhance wound infection management and targeted prescriptions for antibiotics.
With the rising incidence of caesarean section and obesity as a significant risk factor for SSI, a more tangible and systematic approach is needed for early identification and management of c-section wound infection to reduce cost and minimise adverse experiences for mothers.
Using infrared thermography of surgical wounds in other medical fields (colorectal surgery), there is early evidence that SSI could be detected before the appearance of 'pus' in the wound. This study proposal aims to evaluate thermography and to develop tools for wound map image analysis in a maternity population following caesarean section.Summary of Results
We recruited 20 women who had all undergone caesarean section. From the booking BMI, eight women were obese (including two women with infected wounds), seven women were overweight and five women had a normal BMI. Temperature profiling revealed characteristic features of thermal territories between scar and adjacent regions. Differences in scar thermal intensity profiles exist between healthy scars and infected wounds; features that have potential for wound surveillance. The maximum temperature differences between healthy skin and the wound site exceed 2º C in women with established wound infection. At day two, two women had a scar thermogram with features observed in the ‘infected’ wound thermogram.Conclusion:
Thermal imaging at early and later times after caesarean birth is feasible and acceptable. Women reported potential benefits of the technique for future wound infection screening. Thermal intensity profiling between scar and adjacent healthy skin has potential as a method for the development of techniques targeted to early infection surveillance in women after caesarean section.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0031
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion