DISCUSSION
Open abdominal management is reserved for those patients in
whom abdominal closure would result in excessive intraabdominal
pressure or who require early return to the operating
room for reexploration. Several techniques for temporary
abdominal wound closure have been proposed, including
skin closure alone or use of various biosynthetic materials
sutured to the skin or fascia. Placement of polypropylene
mesh in temporary closure of the abdomen has been well
documented.3–9 It has been used with and without a zipper
mechanism to allow for sequential abdominal
reexplorations.10–16 Underlying viscera may adhere to the
mesh and become injured during subsequent reexploration.16
The mesh, if left long enough, may erode into the bowel.17
Repetitive suturing of biosynthetic material to fascial edges
damages the fascia and may be a causative factor in development
of fascial necrosis.9
Several techniques have been described for temporary closure
of the abdominal wall. These include the use of expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene, Silastic sheets, and zipper
fasteners.16–20 Although these materials are less adherent to
underlying viscera, their use requires suturing of the prosthetic
material to the abdominal wall tissues. Management of
peritoneal fluid is still a problem unless a drainage system is
FIG 4. Two 10-French flat silicone drains are placed on top of the towel, and
tubing from the drains is tunneled beneath the skin to exit 3 to 5 cm away from the
superior pole of the wound.
FIG 5. Each drain tube is connected to a bulb suction, which is connected to a limb
of a Y-adapter.
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