Comparative study of open abdomen treatment: ABThera™ vs. abdominal dressing™.
BACKGROUND
Negative pressure therapy (NPT) is a widely recognised procedure for the temporary closure of open abdominal wounds. In this study, we compare two NPT products, the V.A.C.® abdominal dressing (AD) system and the new ABThera™ (ABT) system, in terms of the primary closure rates achieved, types of closure, and the associated morbidity.


METHODS
We employed a retrospective comparative study of open-abdomen patients treated with NPT using either AD or ABT. The indications for treatment were damage control surgery, abdominal compartment syndrome, or severe abdominal sepsis.


RESULTS
The group of patients treated with ABT showed a higher percentage of primary closures (41 vs. 11%) and required fewer days of NPT (17 vs. 26 days) than the AD group. Differences were statistically significant. In addition, only 4% of patients in the ABT group exhibited enteroatmospheric fistulae, compared to 17% in the AD group.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the AD system, ABT can achieve faster primary closure after open abdomen treatment with only minor complications.
Digestive and General Surgery Department, University Hospital Joan XXIII Tarragona, 4th Dr. Mallafre Guasch St. 3th floor, 43007, Tarragona, Spain, drcarlesolona@gmail.com.
C
C
Olona
A
A
Caro
E
E
Duque
F
F
Moreno
J
J
Vadillo
J C
JC
Rueda
V
V
Vicente
D000005:Abdomen / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies