Introduction

Ideal closure of the abdomen after laparotomy is still a matter of great debate. It should be free from complications like wound dehiscence, incisional hernia and persistent sinuses. In any wound closure despite the personal skills of surgeon, the correct suture materials and its correct application are of immenseimportance. The common practice nowadays is the use of non–absorbable materials for fascial closure in single layer. But patients complain of wound pain, suture sinus, suture granuloma and puckering of abdomen¹.

Aims and objective

To identify the ideal suture for single layer closure of abdominal fascial layer whichnot only reduces the incidence of incisional hernia but also has the propensity of reducing wound pain and suture sinus formation.

Materials and methods

The study was undertaken in the department of general surgery in Calcutta National Medical College for a period of 1 yearafter obtaining informed consent from all the patients. 110 patients were studied after a computer–generated randomization.50 patients had undergone closure with polydioxanone representing closure with delayed absorbable material and 60 patients had undergone closure with polypropylene representing closure with non–absorbable materials.All patients were followed up at 2 weeks,4weeks,1year and 2years.

Statistical analysis

The Statistical analysis was done by calculating the P value.

Results

It was found that the patients whose abdomen were closed with delayed absorbable suture material had lesswound painor problem of suture formation with lesserincidence of incisional hernia.

Conclusion

The ideal method of midline abdominal wound closure is single layer fascial closure with delayed absorbable suture material.