ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture in reducing wound infections of emergency gastrointestinal surgeries. MethodsThis was a prospective, randomized, controlled, single center study. From May 2009 to August 2010, 412 patients underwent emergency gastrointestinal operations in our department, 198 of them were chose randomly as experimental group using triclosancoated polyglactin 910 suture for abdominal wall closure, 214 using traditional braiding suture were taken as control. The risk factors for wound healing were analyzed, and wound infection rate was compared between two groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences of gender, age, body mass index, combined diabetes, use of immunosuppressant, and glucocorticoid steroid, type of incision, intraoperative bleeding volume, and operation time between two groups (Pgt;0.05). Wound infection rate of experimental group 〔3.0% (6/198)〕 was significantly lower than that of control group 〔11.7% (25/214), Plt;0.001〕. Especially in subgroup of type Ⅲ incision and operative time more than 120 min, wound infection rate was significantly different between experimental group and control group 〔3.5%(5/141) versus 14.3%(22/154); 3.3%(2/60) versus 21.2%(11/52) respectively, Plt;0.001〕. ConclusionTriclosancoated polyglactin 910 suture can reduce wound infection rate of gastrointestinal emergency operations, especially with type Ⅲ incision and operation time ≥120 min.