Open abdomen closure methods for severe abdominal sepsis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The open abdomen (OA) procedure as part of damage control surgery represents a significant surgical advance in severe intra-abdominal infections. Major techniques used for OA are negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and non-NPWT. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the effects of different abdominal closure methods and their outcomes in patients presenting with abdominal sepsis treated with OA.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of patients affected by severe intra-abdominal sepsis treated with OA. Demographic features, mortality prediction score, abdominal closure methods, length of hospital stay, complications and mortality rates of patients were determined and compared.

Results: This study included 106 patients, of whom 77 underwent OA with NPWT and 29 with non-NPWT. OA duration was longer in NPWT patients (p = 0.007). In-hospital mortality rates in NPWT and in non-NPWT patients were 40.3% and 51.7%, respectively (p = 0.126), with an overall 30-day mortality rate of 18.2% and 51.7%, respectively (p = 0.0002). After emergency colorectal surgery, patients who underwent OA with NPWT had a lower rate of colostomy (p = 0.025).

Conclusions: NPWT is the best temporary abdominal closure technique to decrease mortality and colostomy rates in patients managed with OA for severe intra-abdominal infections.