title: High risk of fistula formation in vacuum-assisted closure therapy in patients with open abdomen due to secondary peritonitis-a retrospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure therapy in patients with open abdomen due to secondary peritonitis and to identify possible risk factors of fistula formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hospital OPS-database (time period 2005-2014) was searched to identify patients treated with an open abdomen due to secondary peritonitis, who underwent vacuum-assisted closure therapy. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for patients' characteristics, cause of peritonitis, duration of vacuum therapy, number of relaparotomies, fascial closure rates, and risk factors of fistula formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three patients (19 male, 24 female) with a median age of 65 years (range 24-90 years) were identified. The major cause of secondary peritonitis was anastomotic leakage after intestinal anastomosis or bowel perforation, the median APACHE II score was 11. Median duration of VAC treatment was 12 days (range 3-88 days). Twenty of 43 (47 %) patients died from septic complications. Delayed fascial closure was obtained by suturing in 20 of 43 patients (47 %). Overall 16 of 43 (37 %) patients developed enteroatmospheric fistulas. Re-explorations after starting VAC treatment and duration of VAC therapy were significantly associated with the occurrence of enteroatmospheric fistulas (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis determined the optimal duration of VAC therapy to reduce the risk of fistula formation at 13 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term VAC treatment of patients with an open abdomen due to secondary peritonitis results in a relatively low fascial closure rate and a high risk of fistula formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35043, Marburg, Germany. ioannis.mintziras@uk-gm.de.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mintziras
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miligkos
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Detlef Klaus
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bartsch
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall; D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Enterocutaneous fistula; Open abdomen; Peritonitis; Vacuum-assisted closure therapy