The Effects of Grape Seed Extract Ointment on Approximation of Cesarean Section Wound

Background: Cesarean section is among the most important gynecological surgeries and is the most common surgery in the present era. Delayed wound healing is among the main post-cesarean complications. It dramatically affects female’s quality of life and causes frequent medical visits and even re-hospitalization. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the effects of grape seed extract on the approximation of cesarean section wound. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was done during year 2015 on a convenient sample of 129 eligible females, who had undergone a cesarean section at Valiasr hospital, Birjand, Iran. The candidates were randomly allocated to a placebo and two experimental groups. In one experimental group, the participants were treated with 2.5% grape seed extract ointment (group A) while in the other, 5% ointment was used (group B). Wound approximation was measured by using the redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, approximation (REEDA) scale at three time points including before ointment application (T1) as well as at the sixth (T2) and the fourteenth (T3) post-intervention days. The data were analyzed via the SPSS (v. 19.0) software and through analysis of variance, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Friedman’s, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Before the study intervention, the difference among the groups regarding the mean score of wound approximation was not statistically significant (P = 0.14). However, there were significant differences among the groups regarding the mean score of wound approximation at T2 (P = 0.002) and T3 (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of grape seed extract ointment in accelerating cesarean wound closure. Therefore, the ointment can be used to accelerate wound healing after cesarean section.