Surgical Wound Complications

Surgical wound complications remain a significant and often under‑reported challenge in surgical care. This EWMA project aims to strengthen prevention and early management by increasing awareness of key risk factors, particularly in the pre‑operative phase, and by supporting consistent, evidence‑based clinical practice across surgical specialties.

Objectives and outcomes

The project seeks to improve clinical decision‑making and patient outcomes through the development of targeted, practical resources. Specifically, it will:

• Identify and describe key risk factors associated with surgical wound complications.
• Develop an EWMA document addressing prevention pathways and management strategies.
• Produce short, practical clinical guidance applicable across surgical specialties.
• Support structured prevention approaches and earlier, more accurate management of complications.

By addressing gaps in existing guidance, the project aims to improve quality of care, support faster patient recovery, and reduce the overall burden of surgical wound complications on healthcare systems.

Target groups

The primary target group is interdisciplinary teams working in surgical units, including:

• Surgeons
• Nurses
• Allied healthcare professionals involved in pre‑ and post‑operative care
• Healthcare professionals engaged in prevention planning and wound management.