Absence of closure of the abdominal wound following reoperation for severe peritonitis is an additional therapeutic technique in dealing with peritoneal infection. However, this technique poses the problem of covering the loops of the small intestine in order to avoid fistulisation in the exposed viscera. The loops are initially protected by a "wound protector" or covered with a plate of polyurethane foam. Secondarily, when the peritoneal cavity is clean, the open wound is converted to an incisional hernia by a thin dermo-epidermal graft in strips, applied to the granulation tissue. This technique is effective and would seem to be simpler than detachments, plasties and relieving incisions.