None of the techniques that were compared significantly reduced the incidence of adhesive small bowel obstruction .
None of the specific techniques that were compared reduced the two main adhesion-related clinical outcomes , small bowel obstruction and infertility .
The meta- analysis provides little evidence for the surgical principle that using less invasive techniques , introducing less foreign bodies or causing less ischaemia reduces the extent and severity of adhesions
INTRODUCTION Adhesion formation is the most common complication following  peritoneal surgery  and the leading cause of small bowel obstruction , acquired infertility and inadvertent organ injury at reoperation .
Using a ' good surgical technique ' is advocated as a first step in preventing adhesions .
However , the evidence for different surgical techniques to reduce adhesion formation needs confirmation .
Is closure of the peritoneal layer necessary in the repair of midline surgical abdominal wounds?
This study describes a prospect i ve r and omized controlled trial to evaluate whether suture of the peritoneal layer is necessary as a separate step in the closure of midline abdominal surgical wounds . Consecutive patients undergoing abdominal operation — elective and emergency surgery — through a midline abdominal wound were r and omized to have the peritoneal layer closed with continuous catgut , or to have this step omitted . The linea alba was closed with interrupted stainless steel sutures , and the skin approximated with staples . Patients were evaluated for wound sepsis , wound dehiscence , and subsequent incisional hernia development . Postoperative pain was assessed by a self-administered visual analogue score , and by measuring narcotic requirements . There was no significant difference in narcotic requirements , pain scores , or wound complications between the 2 groups . Single-layer closure of the abdominal wall is quicker , less costly , and theoretically safer than layered closure , and it is recommended that separate suture of the peritoneum be ab and oned . ResuméDans cette étude prospect i ve , r and omisée , et contrôlée , nous avons cherché à savoir si la fermeture individualisée du péritoine était nécessaire dans la fermeture d'une laparotomie médiane . Deux cents patients consécutifs — opérés à froid ou en urgence — par laparotomie médiane  , ont été r and omisés : dans un groupe , le péritoine a été fermé en un plan individualisé par un surjet au catgut , dans l'autre , le péritoine n'a pas été suturé . La ligne blanche a été fermée en un plan par des points séparés de fils d'acier ; la peau a été fermée par des agrafes . On a étudié le nombre des abcès de paroi , des éviscérations , et , à distance , des éventrations . La douleur postopératoire a été évaluée par un score analogue visuel , établi par le patient lui-même , ainsi que par la nécessité d'utiliser des antalgiques . Il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les 2 groupes en ce qui concerne le taux de complications pariétales ou l'existence de douleur . Comme la fermeture pariétale en un seul plan est plus rapide , coûte moins cher , et , est théoriquement plus sûre ( on peut surveiller le contenu intrapéritonéal pendant la fermeture ) que la fermeture plan par plan , nous recomm and ons d'ab and oner la fermeture individualisée du péritoine . ResumenEl presente articulo describe un ensayo clínico prospect ivo destinado a investigar si es necesaria la sutura de la capa peritoneal como un paso independiente en el cierre de incisiones abdominales de línea media . Una serie de pacientes consecutivos sometidos a operaciones abdominales fueron r and omizados a cierre peritoneal con sutura continua de catgut  o a omisión de este paso . La línea alba fue cerrada con suturas interrumpidas de acero inoxidable y la piel con agrafes . Se estudió la incidencia de infección de herida , de dehiscencia , y de desarrollo de hernia incisional subsiguientes . La valoración del dolor postoperatorio fue realizada mediante autoevaluación con una escala linear análoga y la determinación de los requerimientos de narcóticos . No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el requerimiento de narcóticos para analgesia , en el nivel de la escala de dolor , o en la tasa de complicaciones entre los 2 grupos . El cierre de la pared abdominal en una capa única es más rápido , menos costoso , y teóricamente más seguro ; por lo tanto , se recomienda ab and onar la sutura del peritoneo
None of the techniques that were compared significantly reduced the incidence of adhesive small bowel obstruction .
None of the specific techniques that were compared reduced the two main adhesion-related clinical outcomes , small bowel obstruction and infertility .
The meta- analysis provides little evidence for the surgical principle that using less invasive techniques , introducing less foreign bodies or causing less ischaemia reduces the extent and severity of adhesions
INTRODUCTION Adhesion formation is the most common complication following  peritoneal surgery  and the leading cause of small bowel obstruction , acquired infertility and inadvertent organ injury at reoperation .
Using a ' good surgical technique ' is advocated as a first step in preventing adhesions .
However , the evidence for different surgical techniques to reduce adhesion formation needs confirmation .