[Prevention of surgical wound infections by means of ring drapes]

In order to test the efficiency of wound protecting ring drapes and incisional drapes we carried out a prospective study of 283 patients, who underwent larger operations of the gastrointestinal tract from 1975 to 1979. Whilst complications of wound healing following operations of the upper gastrointestinal tract were not reduced, a reduction of the rate of secondary wound healing by 20% was achieved after operations on the large bowel. Overweight did not cause a higher rate of wound sepsis as it is usually the case when wound protecting drapes are not used. A further significant reduction of complicated wound healing could be observed after preoperative systemic application of antibiotics. This effect could not be stated when antibiotic prophylaxis was started after the operation.