Early abdominal closure with mesh reduces multiple organ failure after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: guidelines from a 10-year case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were the comparison of patients who needed mesh closure of the abdomen with patients who underwent standard abdominal closure after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and the determination of the impact of timing of mesh closure on multiple organ failure (MOF) and mortality.


METHODS
We performed a case-control study of patients who needed mesh-based abdominal closure (n = 45) as compared with patients who underwent primary closure (n = 90) after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.


RESULTS
Before surgery, the patients who needed mesh abdominal closure had more blood loss (8 g versus 12 g of hemoglobin; P <.05), had prolonged hypotension (18 minutes versus 3 minutes; P <.01), and more frequently needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (31% versus 2%; P <.01) than did the patients who underwent primary closure. During surgery, the patients who needed mesh closure also had more severe acidosis (base deficit, 14 versus 7; P <.01), had profound hypothermia (32 degrees C versus 35 degrees C; P <.01), and needed more fluid resuscitation (4.0 L/h versus 2.7 L/h; P <.01). With this adverse clinical profile, the patients who needed mesh closure had a higher mortality rate than did the patients who underwent primary closure (56% versus 9%; P <.01). However, the patients who underwent mesh closure at the initial operation (n = 35) had lower MOF scores (P <.05), a lower mortality rate (51% versus 70%), and were less likely to die from MOF (11% versus 70%; P <.05) than the patients who underwent mesh closure after a second operation in the postoperative period for abdominal compartment syndrome (n = 10).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports the largest experience of mesh-based abdominal closure after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and defines clinical predictors for patients who need to undergo this technique. Recognition of these predictors and initial use of mesh closure minimize abdominal compartment syndrome and reduce the rate of mortality as the result of MOF.
Rasmussen
Todd E
TE
Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Hallett
John W
JW
Noel
Audra A
AA
Jenkins
Gregory
G
Bower
Thomas C
TC
Cherry
Kenneth J
KJ
Panneton
Jean M
JM
Gloviczki
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome