title: Prospective study examining clinical outcomes associated with a negative pressure wound therapy system and Barker's vacuum packing technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The open abdomen has become a common procedure in the management of complex abdominal problems and has improved patient survival. The method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) may play a role in patient outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational, open-label study was performed to evaluate two TAC techniques in surgical and trauma patients requiring open abdomen management: Barker's vacuum-packing technique (BVPT) and the ABThera(TM) open abdomen negative pressure therapy system (NPWT). Study endpoints were days to and rate of 30-day primary fascial closure (PFC) and 30-day all-cause mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 280 patients were enrolled from 20 study sites. Among them, 168 patients underwent at least 48 hours of consistent TAC therapy (111 NPWT, 57 BVPT). The two study groups were well matched demographically. Median days to PFC were 9 days for NPWT versus 12 days for BVPT (p = 0.12). The 30-day PFC rate was 69 % for NPWT and 51 % for BVPT (p = 0.03). The 30-day all-cause mortality was 14 % for NPWT and 30 % for BVPT (p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that patients treated with NPWT were significantly more likely to survive than the BVPT patients [odds ratio 3.17 (95 % confidence interval 1.22-8.26); p = 0.02] after controlling for age, severity of illness, and cumulative fluid administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active NPWT is associated with significantly higher 30-day PFC rates and lower 30-day all-cause mortality among patients who require an open abdomen for at least 48 h during treatment for critical illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Education, Orlando Regional Medical Center, 86 West Underwood Street, Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32806, USA. michael.cheatham@orlandohealth.com
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cheatham
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demetriades
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fabian
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bochicchio
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarani
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rotondo
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; D000328:Adult; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome