Wound healing is a complex process involving interaction between different cell types, such as
growth factors. Among these,
vascular endothelial growth factors (
VEGF) and basic
fibroblast growth factors (b-FGF) are the most important. The aim of this study was to assess the production of
VEGF and b-FGF in
wound drainage fluid from patients undergoing incisional
abdominal hernia repair. Ten female patients with abdominal midline
incisional hernia undergoing surgical repair were included in this study. In all cases a closed suction drain was placed in the
wound below the fascia and removed on postoperative day 4.
Wound fluid was collected on the I, II, III and IV day and its amount at each time was recorded.
VEGF and b-FGF production were evaluated as the quantity produced in 24 hours. In all patients the amount of drainage fluid from the
surgical wound was highest on the I day after surgery, after which there was a significant reduction.
VEGF production increased progressively after the operation proving significantly higher only on the IV day. The amount of b-FGF, in contrast, was higher on the I day, decreasing thereafter on the following postoperative days. Analysis of the production of
growth factors in the drainage fluid has enabled us to better assess the events that occur following
surgical wounds and has confirmed the physiology of the healing process and the possible use of these factors in modulating positive healing.