[Preoperative skin preparation in abdominal surgery]

Mechanical skin preparation is a daily nursing procedure in abdominal surgery. Even though a single procedure has not yet been adopted, several evidence-based points can be found in the literature: non-shaving or depilation of the surgical field with and electric clipper give the lowest rate of wound infection. The same is true for shaving of the operative field just before the operation. The beneficial effects of depilatory cream have not been demonstrated. Finally, there are no current data dealing with the acceptability and the overall cost of depilation procedures.