When performing rounds on your patient, who 5 days ago had a laparotomy for intestinal obstruction, you find his wound dressings soaked in some clear pinkish fluid. “Change the dressings more frequently,” you mutter to the intern. A day later, during lunch, you are paged by the head nurse on the floor: “Doctor, Mr. Hirsch’s intestines are sprawled all around his bed. Please come and help!” How embarrassing.