Stitch showdown: small bites may beat large bites for emergency belly surgery

NCT ID NCT07154277

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether taking smaller, closer stitches (small bites) when closing an emergency belly incision leads to fewer wound infections, less wound opening, and fewer hernias compared to the traditional larger stitches. Two hundred adults having emergency abdominal surgery will be randomly assigned to one of the two closure methods and followed for six months. The goal is to find the safest and most effective technique for these urgent surgeries.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
surgical suture technique (small bite vs large bite closure)
What this could lead to
If small bites work better, this could become the standard way to close emergency abdominal incisions, reducing complications like infections and hernias.
What could go wrong
This is a mid-stage trial with 200 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The techniques are already used, so no major new risks, but the benefit over large bites is unproven.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Incisional Hernia Surgical Wound Dehiscence Surgical Wound Infection

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi

    Karachi, Sindh, 74400, Pakistan

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