Using Dry Human Amniotic Membrane in Secondary Intention Wound Healing After Urological Cancer Surgery: The First Randomized Clinical Trial in Iran

Background: Wound healing is a complex process and in some patients, it is a long process. Due to the presence of various underlying diseases in patients with cancer, this process is delayed, and as a result, the rate of complications increases. Therefore, some materials are needed to accelerate wound healing. Nowadays efficacy of dry human amniotic membrane in burn wounds and chronic wounds is proven; however, no studies have been performed on the effect of this tissue in the treatment of surgical wounds. Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of dry human amniotic membrane in the secondary repair of urological cancer surgery wounds. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial from January 2018 to June 2020, 40 patients who underwent urological cancer surgery and secondary intention wound healing were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 patients. In the case group, the dry human amniotic membrane was used for dressing wounds, and in the control group, normal dressing without an amniotic membrane was performed. Complications such as infection, sepsis, and reoperation, as well as the duration of wound healing and hospitalization of patients at intervals of 1 week, 1, and 3 months, were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The 2 groups matched in terms of gender, age, and wound location. The mean duration of hospitalization and wound healing was significantly lower in the case group (P 0.05). The rate of complications was higher in the control group but was not significant. Conclusions: Dry human amniotic membranes due to the accelerated wound healing process and fewer complications could be a good choice for secondary healing of wounds after urological cancer surgery.