title: Delayed primary closure in colon operations.
abstract: Secondary closure of incisions by tape is a simple, safe procedure. In a retrospective series of 179 contaminated surgical wounds (incisions for colon operations) delayed wound closure resulted in a lower incidence of wound infection (5.8%) than did primary closure of similar wounds (11.8%). Although wounds left open do become infected, the acute swelling and systemic signs typical of an infection in a closed wound never develop. Delayed closure facilitated wound healing in hospital: only 3.8% of patients thus treated left hospital with open wounds, but 9.5% of patients whose wounds were closed primarily left hospital with wounds that were partially or completely open.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents