How to Prevent Dehiscence and Evisceration:
Bracing - When doing any activity that increases abdominal pressure (sneezing, coughing, vomiting, laughing, bearing down for a bowel movement) hold pressure over your incision using your hands or a pillow. This can both prevent dehiscence and minimize pain during activity.
Prevent Constipation - Constipation is common after surgery, and straining to have a bowel movement puts unnecessary stress on your incision. Prevent constipation with proper nutrition after surgery, or if you are already constipated, ask your surgeon for medication to help.
Proper Incision Care - Proper incision care will not only speed healing, but it helps prevent infection, which can weaken the incision and increase the chances of dehiscence.
Prevent coughing and sneezing - If you’ve had surgery and your allergies are acting up or you have a cough, be proactive about keeping sneezing and coughing to a minimum. Repetitive coughing and sneezing can slowly weaken your incision, which can slow healing and (in some cases) lead to dehiscence.
Avoid Lifting – If your doctor says you are not allowed to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds for 2 weeks after surgery, he isn’t kidding. Lifting objects can place stress on your incision that can cause it to open.
Source: Postoperative Patient Care. Nursing Fundamentals. http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/Nursing_Fundamentals_II/lesson_8_Section_4.htm
