Abdominal wound infections and plastic wound guards

A study is reported of the influence of plastic wound protectors on the incidence of wound infection in patients having abdominal operations involving the opening of the alimentary tract or biliary system. Of 167 patients, 84 were randomly allocated to a group in which Vi-Drape wound protectors were used during the operation. In the whole series there was a low incidence of wound infection (12 per cent), but no difference was found between those who had plastic wound protectors and those who did not.