A randomized study of abdominal fascial closure using interrupted polyglyconate and polyglycolic acid sutures after laparotomy was carried out in 204 consecutive patients with suspected impaired wound healing. There were no statistically significant differences between the two sutures with regard to the development of fascial disruption and incisional hernia. Wound infection demanding surgical intervention was found in 7 per cent of patients with polyglyconate sutures and in 16 per cent of those with polyglycolic acid sutures (P = 0.04). Monofilament polyglyconate suture does not reduce the incidence of fascial disruption and incisional hernia after laparotomy in patients with suspected impaired wound healing but the incidence of wound infection may be reduced compared with that of multifilament polyglycolic acid suture.

Summary The frequency and size of fetomaternal bleeds during the first attempt at external version of the fetus in breech presentation in 50 pregnant women were investigated. Fetomaternal bleeds of 0–1 to 1–5 ml were detected in 14 women (28 per cent). It is concluded that rhesus negative women should be given anti‐D before attempts at external version are made.

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