2025
Foreword by Associate Professor Kylie Sandy-Hodgetts, Chair.
Surgical wound complications are an unwanted outcome and may occur following any type of surgical procedure. While there are a number of guidelines for prevention of surgical site infection for tertiary level care, these are designed to be used during the perioperative and intraoperative phases of the patient’s surgical journey. 1,2 As such, there is a paucity of clinical guidance for post‑operative incision care, in both the acute and home‑care settings. Moreover, this deficit is exacerbated by a limited evidence base to draw upon. This guideline is the first of its kind that demarcates clinical care principles for patients with closed surgical incisions, separate to management of patients with hard‑to‑heal (chronic) wounds or surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. This is a living guideline, built upon current and emerging evidence and research. The International Surgical Wound Complications Advisory Panel (ISWCAP) will regularly update this guideline’s recommendations as new evidence becomes available.
