Safety and Efficacy of Hydrogen Peroxide in Controlling Blood Loss and Surgical Site Infection After Multisegmental Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Retrospective, Case-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 in controlling blood loss and surgical site infection (SSI) after multisegmental lumbar spine surgery. METHODS: A total of 2626 patients who had undergone multisegmental lumbar spinal surgery from January 2015 to January 2018 were included in the present study. Stratified by the use of H2O2 irrigation, they were divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 1345) and the experimental group (n = 1281). The demographic parameters, laboratory examination results, and surgery-related information (e.g., operative time, number of operated levels, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative SSI, extubation time), and perioperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen regarding the demographic parameters, laboratory examination results, comorbidities, and surgery-related information. The extubation time and postoperative drainage collection were lower in the experimental group (3.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.6 days, P = 0.402; 251.8 +/- 67.5 vs. 291.8 +/- 71.3 ml, P = 0.013). In the control group, the rate of SSI was 2.4% (32 of 1345) and included 17 superficial wound infections and 15 deep wound infections. In the experimental group, the SSI rate was 1.4% (18 of 1281; 15 with a superficial wound infection and 3 with a deep wound infection). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism, especially in the experimental group (66.7% vs. 50%). No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the perioperative complications, including hematencephalon, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction (P > 0.05). Pneumocephalus was not observed in either group. CONCLUSION: The application of H2O2 in posterior lumbar interbody fusion can reduce the blood loss and incidence of SSI after surgery and was quite beneficial for controlling the increasing number of vancomycin-resistant bacteria.