Background:  Surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) in neonates is a life-threatening complication. The aim was to define risk factors of postoperative incision dehiscence in this population.

Methods:  Data of 144 patients from 2010 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. All full-term newborns or preterm newborns up to 42 weeks of amenorrhea (adjusted) who had a laparotomy within 30 days were included. Descriptive patient information and perioperative data were collected. SWD was defined as any separation of cutaneous edges of postoperative wounds.

Results:  Overall, SWD occurred in 16/144 (11%) patients, with a significantly increased incidence in preterm newborns (13/59, 22%) compared with full-term newborns (3/85, 4%; p  < 0.001). SWD was significantly associated with exposure to postnatal steroids (60% vs. 4%, p  < 0.001) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (25% vs. 4%, p  < 0.01), invasive ventilation duration before surgery (median at 10 vs. 0 days, p  < 0.001), preoperative low hemoglobin concentration (115 vs. 147 g/L, p  < 0.001) and platelet counts (127 vs. 295 G/L, p  < 0.001), nonabsorbable suture material (43% vs. 8%, p  < 0.001), the presence of ostomies (69% vs. 18%, p  < 0.001), positive bacteriological wound cultures (50% vs. 6%, p  < 0.001), and relaparotomy (25% vs. 3%, p  < 0.01). Thirteen of 16 patients with SWD presented necrotizing enterocolitis/intestinal perforations (81%, p  < 0.001).

Conclusion:  This study identified prematurity and a number of other factors linked to the child's general condition as risk factors for SWD. Some of these can help physicians recognize and respond to at-risk patients and provide better counseling for parents.