Controlled open drainage of severe intra-abdominal sepsis.
Controlled open drainage of the abdomen (gauze in plastic intestinal bag/surgical glove packing of abscesses; wound closure only to the degree needed to prevent evisceration) was compared with closed drainage (soft rubber or sump drains; complete fascial closure) in 31 patients with severe intra-abdominal sepsis. Three (23%) of 13 patients died after open drainage vs eight (44%) of 18 after closed drainage. The difference was attributable to a lower incidence of recurrent abscesses in the former group (one recurrence) than in the latter (six recurrences). Thus, controlled open drainage may improve survival in this highly lethal condition.
D000005:Abdomen; D000038:Abscess / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged