Overview on Temporary Abdominal Closure Techniques: A Review

Open abdomen (OA) is becoming more common, primarily to prevent intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) following emergency abdominal surgery. The purpose of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) techniques is no longer just abdomen coverage; fluid regulation and early fascial closure are now important considerations. TAC techniques for leaving the abdomen open are numerous. The ideal one should be simple to apply and remove, allow for quick access to a surgical second opinion, drain secretions, ease primary closure with acceptable morbidity and mortality, allow for easy nursing, and, finally, be readily available and inexpensive. Over the years, several TAC methods have been proposed. In this review, we overview different techniques for temporary abdominal closure and its advantages and disadvantages.

SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF SEVERE PURULENT PERITONITIS WITH INTRAABDOMINAL HYPERTENSION COMPLICATIONS (CLINICAL CASE)

The widely used traditional method of surgical treatment of patients with widespread purulent peritonitis failed to establish itself as universal and has a large number of disadvantages, which prompts the use of new methods of managing patients in the postoperative period in surgical practice. The case described in the work illustrates the possibilities of a successful integrated approach in the treatment of diffuse purulent peritonitis against the background of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, which includes the «Open abdomen» and «VAC-therapy» techniques, the use of which leads to a persistent decrease in both IАP and relief of the phenomena of purulent inflammation in the abdominal cavity. Conclusions. The use of VAC-therapy in combination with the «Open abdomen» technique leads to a persistent decrease in both ICP and relief of the phenomena of purulent inflammation in the abdominal cavity.

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.

Open Abdomen after Two Trauma Laparotomies: Do Diuretics Help?

Data are lacking regarding the use of diuretics in facilitating closure of the open abdomen (OA). For patients with an OA after 2 laparotomies, we hypothesized that diuretic use was associated with a higher rate of primary fascial closure than no diuretic use. A retrospective review of patients with trauma laparotomies over 7 years was performed. Primary fascial closure (PFC) was defined as apposition of fascial edges without interposition mesh. Of 321 patients, 30 (9%) remained with an OA after 2 laparotomies. Prior to the third laparotomy, median cumulative fluid balance was +12.6 L. Thirteen (43%) received diuretics. Primary fascial closure rates were similar for diuretic use vs no diuretic (38% vs 59%, P = .46). Primary fascial closure was not associated with age ( P = .2), gender ( P = 0.7), cumulative fluid balance ( P = .3), or units of packed cells ( P = .4). Diuretic use in trauma patients with an OA after 2 laparotomies was not associated with successful PFC.

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.

P110 MANAGEMENT OF THE OPEN ABDOMEN WITH COMBINED THERAPIES. HOW TO AVOID THE VENTRAL HERNIA 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.

O32 TREATMENT OF FASCIAL DEHISCENCE IS IMPROVED BY MESH REINFORCEMENT

Aim In 2014 fascial dehiscence (FD) was treated with re-suturing the fascia as the only measure in half of the cases at our institution, with discouraging re-rupture and incisional hernia (IH) rates. A changing path away from fascia closure (FC) by re-suturing solely towards reinforcement of the closed fascia is now evaluated. Material and Methods Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients operated for FD 2016-2020. Available CT scans were scrutinized for IH. Results 58 patients (14 women) with a mean age of 71 years and a mean BMI of 27.3 were treated with: FC by re-suturing as the only measure (n = 1, 1.7%); FC preceded by a reinforced tension line (RTL) suture (n = 9, 15.5%); FC and on-lay mesh reinforcement (n = 23, 39.7%); retromuscular mesh closure (n = 10, 17.2%); open abdomen treatment with retromuscular mesh reconstruction (n = 1, 1.7%); and, open abdomen treatment with vacuum assisted wound closure and permanent on-lay mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCPOM) (n = 14, 24.1%). One patient in the RTL-group suffered a re-rupture (1.7%). The in-hospital mortality was 5%. Wound healing problems were seen in 29 (51.9%) patients. IH was evaluable in 49 patients with a total incidence of 22.4% at mean follow-up of 21 months. The hernia incidence for mesh reinforced or reconstructed patients was 17.5% compared to 44.4% in re-sutured or RTL patients. Conclusions FD treatment with mesh reinforced FC prevented re-rupture and resulted in a lower rate of IH. Additional standardization and refining the mesh techniques may further improve results.