PLASMA VITAMIN C AND SERUM PROTEIN LEVELS IN WOUND DISRUPTION

Abstract

The problem of disruption and evisceration of abdominal wounds still remains unsolved, and the comparative importance of the various factors concerned with the production of this condition still remains in dispute. In a recent review of the literature, two of us¹ analyzed 1,458 collected cases, including 33 cases occurring in the surgical service of the City of Detroit Receiving Hospital. As a result of this study, we came to the following conclusions: The incidence of this catastrophe is probably about 1.5 per cent, with a mortality of about 35 per cent. The age, sex and race are unimportant factors. Seasonal variations may have some bearing as far as they predispose to respiratory infections. The period when disruption is most likely to occur is from the fifth to the tenth postoperative day, the eighth day being the average. Logically the causes for failure of a wound to heal normally lie