In abdominal evisceration, what is added on top of the moist bulky dressing?

• A. An occlusive dressing.
• B. A plastic cover only.
• C. A second dry dressing.
• D. No additional layer.

Answer: (A)

In abdominal evisceration, the key is protecting exposed viscera by keeping it moist and creating a barrier against the environment. After you place a moist, sterile bulky dressing over the protruding tissues to prevent drying and contamination, you add an occlusive dressing on top. This occlusive layer seals in moisture, reduces evaporative heat loss, and blocks contaminants, helping keep the exposed organs as intact as possible until definitive care. A dry second dressing would draw moisture away and dry the tissues; having no additional layer leaves the viscera exposed; and a plastic cover alone would not reliably provide the necessary moisture-retaining barrier if the moist dressing isn’t covered.