Management of Abdominal Wounds in Thermally Injured Patients
Abstract
Over a 10-year period, 103 burned patients (mean age, 25 years; mean burn size, 43% of the total body surface) required an intra-abdominal operation. Life-threatening complications dictated operative intervention, and the complications resulted in increased mortality. Abdominal incisions dehisced in 33 patients. In 75 patients whose 91 incisions were closed with retention sutures, 18 wounds (20%) separated postoperatively, including seven in which synthetic sutures disrupted. In 28 patients whose 35 abdominal incisions were closed without retention sutures, 15 wounds (43%) dehisced. Placement of the abdominal incision through the burn wound appeared not to affect the incidence of dehiscence. When an abdominal operation is required in burned patients, their wounds should be closed by stainless teel wire, usually as retention sutures, placed through all muscle and fascial layers of the abdominal wall.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA115018
Entities
People
- Arthur D. Mason Jr.
- Basil A. Pruitt Jr.
- Cleon W. Goodwin Jr.
- William F. McManus
Organizations
- United States Army Institute of Surgical Research