Background:  Proteases are naturally occurring enzymes that have received traditional footage in medical treatment. Enzyme preparations have also entered modern medicine since 1960s. Trypsin, Bromelain and Rutosides preparations have recently boomed into the medical prescriptions, claiming a better resolution of inflammatory symptoms, thereby anticipating a faster healing of the surgical wound.

This study aims to prospectively approach and determine the efficacy of these newer proteases with respect to certain fixed parameters of surgical prophylaxis.

Methods: A prospective study on 50 elective surgery patients during a period of 12 months comparing placebo with bromelain trypsin and rutoside oral combinations.

Results: Statistically significant reduction in post-operative edema, seroma and hematoma formation, reduced pain and surgical site infection with better surgical scar coupled with reduction in secondary suturing rates were observed.

Conclusion: The current study thus concludes that oral protease combinations in the peri operative period favorably accelerates healing process culminating into a shorter and better recovery.

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Dr Swarup Chakraborty

Department of Surgery, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India