Abdominal wound closure: A trial of Prolene and Dexon

The incidence of wound infection, burst abdomen and incisional herniation after a vertical abdominal incision was studied in a prospective trial comparing polypropylene (Prolene) with polyglycolic acid (Dexon). Wounds were closed by interrupted mass suture with an optional reinforcing continuous closure of the anterior rectus sheath. A total of 347 patients was studied, randomly allocated to suture with either Prolene or Dexon. The two groups were well matched for known risk factors. Dehiscence occurred in 0·6 per cent of patients overall and at 6 months 5·7 per cent of cases had an incisional hernia, although many of these were asymptomatic. There was no difference in the rate of infection, disruption or herniation between the two suture materials.

[1]  H. Ellis,et al.  Closure of the Abdominal Wound , 1979, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

[2]  J. Dawson,et al.  Wound closure with Dexon (polyglycolic acid) mass suture. , 1978, Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

[3]  H. Ellis,et al.  Does the peritoneum need to be closed at laparotomy? , 1977, The British journal of surgery.

[4]  C. Stoddard,et al.  Abdominal wound healing: a prospective clinical study. , 1977, British medical journal.

[5]  D. Leaper,et al.  Abdominal wound closure: A trial of nylon, polyglycolic acid and steel sutures , 1977, The British journal of surgery.

[6]  H. White,et al.  Abdominal wound dehiscence. A 10-year survey from a district general hospital. , 1977, Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

[7]  T. P. Jenkins.  The burst abdominal wound: A mechanical approach , 1976, The British journal of surgery.

[8]  T. Irvin,et al.  Layer closure of laparotomy wounds with absorbable and non‐absorbable suture materials , 1976, The British journal of surgery.

[9]  Lee Wk,et al.  Abdominal wound disruption. , 1975 .

[10]  F. T. de Dombal,et al.  A controlled clinical trial of three methods of closure of laparotomy wounds , 1975, The British journal of surgery.

[11]  I. V. Lishman.  The community hospital. , 1973, British medical journal.

[12]  J. Walton.  Salmonellosis in livestock. , 1972, Lancet.

[13]  J. Reitamo,et al.  Abdominal wound dehiscence. , 1972, Acta chirurgica Scandinavica.

[14]  G. Efron.  ABDOMINAL WOUND DISRUPTION. , 1965, Lancet.

[15]  C. Eggers,et al.  DISRUPTION OF ABDOMINAL WOUNDS: Symposium at the Meeting of the New York Surgical Society, November 8, 1933. , 1934, Annals of surgery.