Open AccessThe open abdomen: temporary closure with a modified negative pressure therapy technique
Author(s) -
Hougaard Helene T,
Ellebaek Mark,
Holst Uffe T,
Qvist Niels
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international wound journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1742-481X
pISSN - 1742-4801
DOI - 10.1111/iwj.12281
Subject(s) - medicine , negative pressure wound therapy , abdominal compartment syndrome , surgery , abdomen , peritonitis , dehiscence , fascia , fistula , closure (psychology) , mortality rate , wound dehiscence , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , market economy
The most common indications for an open abdomen ( OA ) are abdominal compartment syndrome, damage control surgery, diffuse peritonitis and wound dehiscence, and often require a temporary abdominal closure ( TAC ). The different TAC methods that are currently available include skin closure techniques, mesh products and negative pressure therapy ( NPT ) systems. For this study, we retrospectively reviewed records of 115 OA patients treated with the commercially available NPT systems (V.A.C. ® Abdominal Dressing System and ABThera ™ Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System) using a new method of applying the system – the narrowing technique – over a 5‐year period. Endpoints included fascial closure and 30‐day mortality rates and presence of enteroatmospheric fistulas. Secondary closure of the fascia was obtained in 92% (106/115) of the patients with a mortality rate of 17% (20/115) and a fistula rate of 3·5% (4/115). The use of the narrowing technique to apply NPT may explain the high closure rates observed in the patient population of this study. Further studies are necessary to compare the different methods and to evaluate the long‐term outcomes.