Abdominal wound dehiscence. A 10-year survey from a district general hospital.

The incidence of abdominal wound dehiscence at a district general hospital was found to be about 1.5%. Analysis of a group of 123 patients with dehiscence in 3 separate years during a 10-year period confirmed that disruption most commonly occurs during the second postoperative week. The suture material used for primary closure appeared to have no influence on subsequent dehiscence. After resuture the recorded incidence of incisional herniation was 19% and the mortality was 24%. Patients who survived resuture remained in hospital for a prolonged period.