title: Temporary abdominal wall closure in trauma patients: indications, technique, and results.
abstract: From 1988 to 1992 more than 5300 patients were admitted to a level I trauma center, with 36 of these patients requiring Silastic abdominal closure. Patients ages ranged from 13 to 75 years with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 30 (range 13-50). Nineteen patients (53%) suffered penetrating injuries, and 17 (47%) were victims of blunt trauma. Silastic closure was performed at admission laparotomy in 15 patients (42%) due to inability to close the fascia primarily. Twenty-one patients (58%) underwent Silastic closure at reexploration for inability to close primarily (12 patients), elevated intraabdominal pressure with deteriorating renal function (6 patients), and wound sepsis with fascial necrosis (3 patients). Twenty-six patients (72%) survived and 10 patients (28%) expired. The causes of death were multiple organ failure (9 patients) and exsanguination (1 patient). Of the 26 survivors, 8 patients (31%) underwent fascial closure at initial hospitalization, and 18 patients (69%) required split-thickness skin grafting to visceral granulation tissue. Of these 18 patients, 13 (72%) have already undergone ventral herniorrhaphy at subsequent admission. No patient developed a complication attributable to the technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Trauma/Surgical Critical Care, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Howdieshell
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cué
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D015996:Survival Rate; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers