Skip to main content
Log in

A controlled trial of a plastic wound ring drape to prevent contamination and infection in colorectal surgery

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

A controlled, randomized study of the efficacy of a plastic wound ring drape (Opdrape, Triplus) to prevent contamination and infection in elective colorectal operations is reported. Seventy patients were operated upon with the wound ring drape and 70 patients without. All patients received preoperative systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. Abdominal wound infection was observed in seven of 70 (10 per cent) patients with the wound ring drape and six of 70 (9 per cent) without (N.S.). An operative swab for bacteriologic evaluation was obtained from 85 per cent of the wounds. There was no evidence that the drape protected the wound from contamination with intestinal bacterial flora. It was concluded that the wound ring drape prevents neither contamination nor infection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nyström PO, Bröte L. Effects of a plastic wound drape on contamination with enterobacteria and on infection after appendicectomy. Acta Chir Scand 1980;146:65–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nyström PO, Höjer H, Sjödahl R. Wetterfors J. Clinical microbiologic evaluation of a plastic wound protector in colorectal operations. (In press)

  3. Raahave D. Aseptic barriers of plastic to prevent bacterial contamination of operation wounds. Acta Chir Scand 1974;140:603–10.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Raahave D. Effect of plastic skin and wound drapes on the density of bacteria in operation wounds. Br J Surg 1976;63:421–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Alexander-Williams J, Oates GD, Brown PP, et al. Abdominal wound infections and plastic wound guards. Br J Surg 1972; 59:142–6.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Maxwell JG, Ford CR, Peterson DE, Richards RC. Abdominal wound infections and plastic protectors. Am J Surg 1969; 118:844–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Psaila JW, Wheeler MH, Crosby DL. The role of plastic wound drapes in the prevention of wound infection following abdominal surgery. Br J Surg 1977;64:729–32.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ljungquist U. Wound sepsis after clean operations Lancet 1964;2:1095–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Harrower HW. Isolation of incisions into body cavities. Am J Surg 1968;116:824–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Eggert A, Eckardt K, Seidel H, Teichman W. Wundinfektionsprophylaxe durch ringfolien. Chirurg 1980;51:39–42.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Van der Linden W. On the generalization of surgical trial results. Acta Chir Scand 1980;146:229–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pollock AV. Surgical wound sepsis. Lancet 1979;1:1283–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Nyström, PO., Broomé, A., Höjer, H. et al. A controlled trial of a plastic wound ring drape to prevent contamination and infection in colorectal surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 27, 451–453 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555535

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555535

Key words

Navigation