The Effect of PRP on Wound Healing in High Risk Patients Undergoing Abdominal Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is one of the most common lines of surgical treatment of various uterine disorders as it provides definitive relief from the associated burdensome symptoms with an estimated prevalence of 13.1 per 10,000 women. The indications for hysterectomy include uterine leiomyomas (fibroid), dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometrial adenomyosis, genital prolapse, massive postpartum hemorrhages and uterine cancers. Abdominal hysterectomy is still the most commonly used approach although there have been some preferences for vaginal and laparoscopic approaches.

Abdominal hysterectomy is associated with risk of complications. In high-risk women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, wound healing can be particularly challenging due to a variety of factors, including poor tissue quality, compromised immune function, and underlying medical conditions.

Wound healing is a complex process that involves a series of events that are critical for the restoration of tissue integrity and function. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for enhancing wound healing in high risk patients. PRP is a concentrated source of platelets and growth factors derived from the patient's own blood. It has been shown to promote tissue regeneration and repair by stimulating cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and collagen synthesis. PRP has been used successfully in a variety of clinical settings, including orthopedics, dentistry, and dermatology.

PRP which contains concentrated growth factors have been reported to accelerate wound healing by30-40% giving a satisfactory outcome in the treatment of chronic skin and soft tissue lesions by supplying large amounts of growth factors and chemokines. When platelets become activated, they secrete Seven fundamental protein growth factors initiating all wound healing process, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) & insulin like growth factor 1(ILGF 1), which participate in the acceleration of wound healing process.

A randomized controlled trial conducted by Tehranian et al. (2016) evaluated the use of PRP in high risk women after caesarian section. The study found that patients treated with PRP had significantly faster wound healing and a significant reduction in pain compared to those who received standard care. Similarly, another study by Fanning et al. (2007) investigated the use of PRP in women undergoing gynecologic surgery, there were no apparent adverse effects, and pain was significantly reduced.