A study of the costal incision for biliary tract surgery

A clinical investigation of the costal incision for biliary tract surgery was conducted in 219 patients. The incision affords superior exposure in a wide variety of biliary tract problems and ease or reentry in reoperative surgery. There were no postoperative wound dehiscences. In an examination of 181 patients, with a mean follow-up period of two years, no ventral hernias were discovered. All infected cases were included in the follow-up. The incidence of wound infection was 5.9 per cent. The integrity of repaired costal, subcostal, and vertical transrectus wounds were compared in cats. Wound tension studies demonstrated the mechanical superiority of the costal incision to stress resistance.