Traumatic wound difficult to heal: use of negative pressure therapy: case report

The skin is one of the largest organs of the anatomy. It is the barrier between the exterior and the first line of defense against aggression. A wound is a loss of continuity of the soft parts of the organism generating an interruption in the structure of the tissue, as a consequence of this loss of continuity, there is a loss of sterility existing inside and infection can occur. Another consequence of discontinuity are possible lesions in adjacent tissues or organs. Trauma results in complex wounds that are difficult to manage due to large skin loss or avulsion of large areas of tissue. Among the factors that can prevent proper healing can be systemic (malnutrition, chemotherapy, steroids) or local (infection, prosthetic material, bone exposure). Among the therapeutic options for complex wounds is negative pressure therapy which generates wound contraction, stabilization of the environment, reduction of edema, removal of exudate and micro-deformations of the surface, increase of angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation and decreased bacterial count. We described a clinical case of traumatic injury at the level of the right pelvic limb in a 70-years-old woman with diabetes and hypertension, in which surgical washing was performed, debridement and use of negative pressure therapy with adequate evolution in a second level public hospital.

Damage control surgery for grade IV blunt hepatic injury with multiple organ damage in a child: a case report

Background Intra-abdominal hemorrhage caused by blunt hepatic injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with abdominal trauma. Some of these patients require laparotomy, and rapid decision-making and life-saving surgery are essential. Damage control (DC) surgery is useful for treating children in critical situations. We performed this technique to treat an 8-year-old boy with grade IV blunt hepatic injury and multiple organ damage. This is the first report of the use of the ABTHERA Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System (KCI, now part of 3 M Company, San Antonio, TX, USA) for DC surgery to rescue a patient without neurological sequelae. Case presentation An 8-year-old boy was brought to the emergency department of our hospital after being run over by a motor vehicle. He had grade IV blunt hepatic injury, thyroid injury, and bilateral hemopneumothorax. Although he was hemodynamically stable, the patient’s altered level of consciousness, the presence of a sign of peritoneal irritation, and suspicion of intestinal injury led us to perform exploratory laparotomy. As part of a DC strategy, we performed gauze packing to control hemorrhage from the liver and covered the abdomen with an ABTHERA Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System to improve the patient’s general condition. Eighteen days after admission, the patient was diagnosed with a biliary fistula, which improved with percutaneous and external drainage. He had no neurological sequelae and was discharged 102 days after injury. Conclusion The DC strategy was effective in children with severe blunt hepatic injury. We opted to perform DC surgery because children have less hemodynamic reserve than adults, and we believe that using this strategy before the appearance of trauma triad of death could save lives and improve outcomes. During conservative management, it is important to adopt a multistage, flexible approach to achieve a good outcome.

Role of Rendezvous-Procedure in the Treatment of Complications after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Introduction: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures worldwide with good results, high patient acceptance, and low complication rates. The most relevant perioperative complication is the staple line leak. For the treatment of this complication, endoscopic negative pressure therapy has proven particularly effective. The correct time to start endoscopic negative pressure therapy has not been the subject of studies to date. Methods: Twelve patients were included in this retrospective data analysis over three years. Endoscopic negative pressure therapy was carried out using innovative open pore suction devices. Patients were treated with simultaneous surgery and endoscopy, so called rendezvous-procedure (Group A) or solely endoscopically, or in sequence surgically and endoscopically (Group B). Therapy data of the procedures and outcome measures, including duration of therapy, therapy success, and change of treatment strategy, were collected and analysed. Results: In each group, six patients were treated (mean age 52.96 years, 4 males, 8 females). Poor initial clinical situation, time span of endoscopic negative pressure therapy (Group A 31 days vs. Group B 18 days), and mean length of hospital stay (Group A 39.5 days vs. Group B 20.17 days) were higher in patients with rendezvous procedures. One patient in Group B died during the observation time. Discussion: Rendezvous procedures for patients with staple line leaks after sleeve gastrectomy is indicated for serious ill patients with perigastric abscesses and in need of laparoscopic lavage. The one-stage complication management with the rendezvous procedure seems not to result in an obvious advantage in the further outcome in patients with staple line leaks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Endoscopic negative pressure therapy as stand-alone treatment for perforated duodenal diverticulum: presentation of two cases

Background Endoscopic negative pressure therapy is a novel and successful treatment method for a variety of gastrointestinal leaks. This therapy mode has been frequently described for rectal and esophageal leakages. Duodenal diverticular perforations are rare but life-threatening events. The early diagnosis of duodenal diverticular perforation is often complicated by inconclusive symptoms. This is the first report about endoscopic negative pressure therapy in patients with perforated duodenal diverticula. Case presentation We present two cases of duodenal diverticula perforations treated with endoscopic negative pressure therapy as stand-alone treatment. Start of symptoms varied from one to three days before hospital admission. Early sectional imaging led to the diagnosis of duodenal diverticular perforation. Both patients were treated with endoluminal endoscopic negative pressure therapy with simultaneous feeding option. Three respective changes of the suction device were performed. Both patients were treated with antibiotics and antimycotics during their hospital stay and be discharged from hospital after 20 days. Conclusions This is the first description of successful stand-alone treatment by endoscopic negative pressure therapy in two patients with perforated duodenal diverticulum. We thus strongly recommend to attempt interventional therapy with endoluminal endoscopic negative pressure therapy in patients with duodenal diverticular perforations upfront to surgery.

Use of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy (ciNPT) in Breast Reconstruction Abdominal Free Flap Donor Sites

Background: Closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) may reduce the rate of wound complications and promote healing of the incisional site. We report our experience with this dressing in breast reconstruction patients with abdominal free flap donor sites. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients who underwent breast reconstruction using abdominal free flaps (DIEP, MS-TRAM) at a single institution (Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria) between 2016 and 2021. Results: 126 female patients (mean age: 50 ± 10 years) were analysed, with 41 and 85 patients in the ciNPT (Prevena) and non-ciNPT (Comfeel) groups, respectively. There were reduced wound complications in almost all outcomes measured in the ciNPT group compared with the non-ciNPT group; however, none reached statistical significance. The ciNPT group demonstrated a lower prevalence of surgical site infections (9.8% vs. 11.8%), wound dehiscence (4.9% vs. 12.9%), wound necrosis (0% vs. 2.4%), and major complication requiring readmission (2.4% vs. 7.1%). Conclusion: The use of ciNPT for abdominal donor sites in breast reconstruction patients with risk factors for poor wound healing may reduce wound complications compared with standard adhesive dressings; however, large scale, randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations. Investigation of the impact of ciNPT patients in comparison with conventional dressings, in cohorts with equivocal risk profiles, remains a focus for future research.

P109 MANAGEMENT OF THE OPEN ABDOMEN WITH COMBINED THERAPIES. HOW TO AVOID VENTRAL HERNIAS AND BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL IN A DEFINITIVE WAY

Aim To demonstrate that in patients with abdominal sepsis, delayed primary fascial closure and definitive abdominal wall repair can be achieved, in the same hospitalization, using combined therapies, which reduces the percentage of ventral hernias. Material and Methods Medical records, tomography images and outpatient controls of 9 patients were reviewed, which required open abdomen management for abdominal sepsis using negative pressure therapy combined with a dynamic fascial mesh traction, from February 2020 until May 2021. Results 9 patients (2 men and 7 women), all Grade 2C open abdomen according to Björck clasification, with a median age of 43 years (25-71). The median time therapy was 29±3 days. The primary fascial closure rate was 100% (n = 9), 77.8% (n = 7) underwent a definitive repair of the abdominal wall with absorbable synthetic mesh in the same hospitalization, while 22.2% (n = 2) did not, due to being cancer patients. The mortality rate was 11.1% (n = 1) due to pneumonia and the fistula rate was 11.1% (n = 1). None developed an incisional hernia at the one-year follow-up. Conclusions The combination of negative pressure therapy with dynamic fascial mesh traction, in the management of the open abdomen, allows us to achieve a 100% delayed primary fascial closure, avoiding ventral hernia. In the same hospitalization, while the patient leaves the critical stage, we can achieve a definitive repair of the abdominal wall using absorbable synthetic meshes returning the biomechanics to the abdominal wall, improving the quality of life of these patients.