Priorities in the Management of the Open Abdomen

Nayeli Marilu Lopez Monterrubio, Fernando Navarro Tovar, Hector Alejandro Carzolio Trujillo

Abstract: The open abdomen is a crucial tool in damage control surgery that mainly aims to control sepsis, facilitate the next surgical approach and prevent compartment syndrome. In its implementation, it is necessary to opt for the temporary closure method that provides the greatest advantages for the specific clinical context and to ensure close monitoring to ensure conditions that promote definitive fascial closure, which ideally should occur in the shortest possible time, to prevent the occurrence of potentially fatal complications.

Keywords: open abdomen, sepsis, nutrition, damage control, temporary closure, abdominal compartment syndrome, enteric fistula, fascial closure, negative pressure