The Spotlight Study: Early Identification of Post-Surgical Infections Using Bedside Ultrasound.

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Surgical Site Infection (SSI), Emergency Laparotomies, Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

In brief

Introduction: The goal of this observational study is to learn whether point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help detect early fluid build-up under the skin after open abdominal surgery (laparotomy) and whether these findings can predict surgical site infection. The study includes adults who recently had emergency or planned open abdominal surgery. Hypothesis: The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does ultrasound identify subcutaneous fluid collections early after surgery? 2. Do these fluid collections help predict which participants will develop a surgical site infection? Intervention: Participants will: 1. Have a superficial wound swab taken once at the start of the study (for research only). 2. Receive three ultrasound scans of their surgical wound during days 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 after surgery. 3. Have their wound checked for redness, swelling, tenderness, or discharge before each scan. 4. Be followed for 7 and 30 days after surgery (and up to 90 days if they have implanted mesh) to see whether an infection develops. Ultrasound is non-invasive and safe. According to the protocol, "no serious adverse effects are expected," though some participants may feel brief discomfort from pressure on a tender wound. This study will help researchers understand whether routine bedside ultrasound can support earlier detection of wound infections and improve postoperative care in the future.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07549880
Run by: Slagelse Hospital
People needed: 100
Starts: 2026-04-10
Expected to finish: 2027-08-30
Last updated by the study team: 2026-04-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Adults >18 years.
Undergoing emergency or elective laparotomy.
Primary or delayed primary wound closure (DPC).
Wound classification: clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty.
Informed consent obtained.

You may not qualify if…

Laparoscopic surgery
Wounds healing by secondary intention.
Ongoing wound dehiscence treatment with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT).
Non-Danish residents

Where it is running

Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev & Gentofte — Herlev, Capital Region, Denmark (enrolling)
Zealand University Hospital - Køge — Køge, Region Sjælland, Denmark (enrolling)
Slagelse Hospital — Slagelse, Region Sjælland, Denmark (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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