[History of healing; wound suturing].

The history of wound suturing reflects that of surgery itself. In wound treatment, which encloses the technique of suturing as well as suturing materials, wound suturing plays a prominent role. In ancient India, Egypt and the Greek and Roman societies wound treatments as well as suturing techniques and instruments were developed that strongly resemble those in our days.

[Surgery in the last 40 years: looking back in wonder].

Much has changed in surgery in the last 40 years: From the fifties, new findings were introduced, such as antibiotics, anticoagulants, cytostatics, cardiac and pulmonary surgery, artificial respiration, osteosynthesis, arteriography, synthetic fibres and image intensifying in the clinic. The average hospital stay in the surgical ward used to be 21 days, mortality 6-7%. Owing to the long hospital stays, nurses, physicians and interns grew familiar with the pre- and postoperative courses.

The use of Marlex mesh in patients with generalized peritonitis and multiple organ system failure.

Patients with generalized peritonitis form a rather threatened group, with a high mortality and risk of complications which increases when multiple organ failure develops. In 20 patients with this condition, the laparotomy wound was closed without tension using a Marlex mesh prosthesis, after surgical treatment of the underlying illness and drainage of the abdominal cavity. The mortality was lower than expected, according to data from the literature; also, pulmonary complications, residual abscesses and wound dehiscence occurred less frequently.