What does wound dehiscence indicate in a postoperative patient?

Wound dehiscence refers specifically to the partial or complete separation of the surgical wound. This condition can occur due to a variety of factors, such as infection, tension on the sutures, or inadequate tissue healing. The critical point is that dehiscence indicates a failure of the wound edges to remain closed, which could compromise the healing process and lead to complications.

While the other options touch on relevant aspects of wound management, they do not precisely define what dehiscence signifies. Inadequate wound closure may contribute to dehiscence, but it does not encapsulate the full meaning of the term. Similarly, although protrusion of abdominal viscera can occur as a result of dehiscence, it describes a more severe complication known as evisceration, which is distinct from the concept of dehiscence itself. Lastly, while a wound that has dehisced may indeed have challenges with healing if it requires re-suturing, this does not define dehiscence, which is solely focused on the state of wound separation. Thus, the focus on partial or complete separation highlights the critical nature of recognizing and addressing wound dehiscence in postoperative care.