Gauze packing of open surgical wounds: empirical or evidence-based practice?

INTRODUCTION Most surgical wounds are closed primarily, but some are allowed to heal by secondary intention. This usually involves repeated packing and dressing of the raw wound surfaces. Although the long-term care of such wounds has devolved to the care of nurses in the community or out-patient setting, the initial wound dressing or cavity packing is done by the surgeon in the operating theatre. Many surgeons are unaware of the growth of the discipline of wound care, and still use traditional soaked gauze for dressing and packing open surgical wounds and cavities. RESULTS This review summarises the some of the modern alternatives available and the evidence--or the lack of it--for their use in both the acute and chronic setting.