basically they are closing the linea alba (white line) of the abdomen, i.e. the abdominal wall, in one layer - using a simple continuous suture pattern (surjet); rather than using two or three layers - it used to be common practice for example to close the peritoneum separately, now they don't bother taking it into the suture at all, also if the surgeon has cut accuately there should only be one layer to close, if he is to one side of the white line then the three different muscle layers can be seen - but all three are closed in one layer "the linea alba was closed in a single layer using a simple continuous suture pattern".
Likewise for the intestinal anastamosis - all three layers of the intestinal wall are taken together (the old technique was to close each one separately): "this anastamosis was performed in a single layer with simple interrupted sutures".

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Note added at 1 hr 24 mins (2004-05-12 06:54:31 GMT)
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sorry about all the typos.....