Rezende-Neto et al identified categories for why a patient was left with an open abdomen after a damage control surgery. The authors are from the University of Toronto and Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil.
Patient selection: surgical patient left with an open abdomen with temporary abdominal closure
Categories:
(1) anatomical
(2) physiological
(3) logistical
Anatomical reasons:
(1) inability to approximate the edges of the laparotomy and perform primary closure
(2) soft tissue loss
(3) impending risk of abdominal compartment syndrome
