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.