title: [Experience with the Bogota bag technique for temporary abdominal closure].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Bogota bag technique is a reliable method for open abdominal closure. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated our experience with the Bogota Bag technique between January 2000 and March 2006. Descriptive statistical techniques were applied and percentages and means were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Bogota bag technique was applied in 12 patients. The technique was the preferred closure system to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome in 11 patients (91.66%) and was required to treat abdominal compartment syndrome in one patient (8.34%). No complications occurred in relation to placement or withdrawal of the Bogota bag. There were no intestinal fistulas or intra-abdominal abscesses. The mean length of hospital stay was 46.33 days and the mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 16.58 days. The survival rate was 41.66%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, the Bogota bag is a useful technique and is the preferred closure system to prevent or treat abdominal compartment syndrome. The high mortality rates described are due to the underlying diseases leading to open abdominal closure and not directly to the Bogota bag technique itself.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital de Valme, Sevilla, España. tonibrox@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brox-Jiménez
authors.forename: Virgilio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Luque
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres-Arcos
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parra-Membrives
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Díaz-Gómez
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gómez-Bujedo
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márquez-Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors