Early abdominal closure improves long-term outcomes after damage-control laparotomy

The impact of hypertonic saline on damage control laparotomy after penetrating abdominal trauma

PURPOSE

The inability to achieve primary fascial closure (PFC) after emergency laparotomy increases the rates of adverse outcomes including fistula formation, incisional hernia, and intraabdominal infection. Hypertonic saline (HTS) infusion improves early PFC rates and decreases time to PFC in patients undergoing damage control laparotomy (DCL) after injury. We hypothesized that in patients undergoing DCL after penetrating abdominal injury, HTS infusion would decrease the time to fascial closure as well as the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation without inducing clinically relevant acute kidney injury (AKI) or electrolyte derangements.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all penetrating abdominal injury patients undergoing DCL within the University of Pennsylvania Health System (January 2015-December 2018). We compared patients who received 3% HTS at 30 mL/h (HTS) to those receiving isotonic fluid (ISO) for resuscitation while the abdominal fascia remained open. Primary outcomes were the rate of early PFC (PFC within 72 h) and time to PFC; secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury, sodium derangement, ventilator-free days, hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU LOS. Intergroup comparisons occurred by ANOVA and Tukey's comparison, and student's t, and Fischer's exact tests, as appropriate. A Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to determine normality of distribution.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients underwent DCL after penetrating abdominal injury (ISO n = 41, HTS n = 16). There were no significant intergroup differences in baseline characteristics or injury severity score. Mean time to fascial closure was significantly shorter in HTS (36.37 h ± 14.21 vs 59.05 h ± 50.75, p = 0.02), and the PFC rate was significantly higher in HTS (100% vs 73%, p = 0.01). Mean 24-h fluid and 48-h fluid totals were significantly less in HTS versus ISO (24 h: 5.2L ± 1.7 vs 8.6L ± 2.2, p = 0.01; 48 h: 1.3L ± 1.1 vs 2.6L ± 2.2, p = 0.008). During the first 72 h, peak sodium (Na) concentration (146.2 mEq/L ± 2.94 vs 142.8 mEq/L ± 3.67, p = 0.0017) as well as change in Na from ICU admission (5.1 mEq/L vs 2.3, p = 0.016) were significantly higher in HTS compared to ISO. Patients in the HTS group received significantly more blood in the trauma bay compared to ISO. There were no intergroup differences in intraoperative blood transfusion volume, AKI incidence, change in chloride concentration (△Cl) from ICU admit, Na to Cl gradient (Na:Cl), initial serum creatinine (Cr), peak post-operative Cr, change in creatinine concentration (△Cr) from ICU admission, creatinine clearance (CrCl), initial serum potassium (K), peak ICU K, change in K from ICU admission, initial pH, highest or lowest post-operative pH, mean hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and ventilator-free days.

CONCLUSIONS

HTS infusion in patients undergoing DCL after penetrating abdominal injury decreases the time to fascial closure and led to 100% early PFC. HTS infusion also decreased resuscitative fluid volume without causing significant AKI or electrolyte derangement. HTS appears to offer a safe and effective fluid management approach in patients who sustain penetrating abdominal injury and DCL to support early PFC without inducing measurable harm.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Damage control surgery in emergency general surgery: What you need to know

ABSTRACT

Damage-control surgery (DCS) is a strategy adopted to limit initial operative interventions in the unstable surgical patient, delaying definitive repairs and abdominal wall closure until physiologic parameters have improved. Although this concept of "physiology over anatomy" was initially described in the management of severely injured trauma patients, the approaches of DCS have become common in the management of nontraumatic intra-abdominal emergencies.While the utilization of damage-control methods in emergency general surgery (EGS) is controversial, numerous studies have demonstrated improved outcomes, making DCS an essential technique for all acute care surgeons. Following a brief history of DCS and its indications in the EGS patient, the phases of DCS will be discussed including an in-depth review of preoperative resuscitation, techniques for intra-abdominal source control, temporary abdominal closure, intensive care unit (ICU) management of the open abdomen, and strategies to improve abdominal wall closure.

Direct Peritoneal Resuscitation for Trauma

Direct peritoneal resuscitation (DPR) has been found to be a useful adjunct in the management of critically ill trauma patients. DPR is performed following damage control surgery by leaving a surgical drain in the mesentery, placing a temporary abdominal closure, and postoperatively running peritoneal dialysis solution through the surgical drain with removal through the temporary closure. In the original animal models, the peritoneal dialysate infusion was found to augment visceral microcirculatory blood flow reducing the ischemic insult that occurs following hemorrhagic shock. DPR was also found to minimize the aberrant immune response that occurs secondary to shock and contributes to multisystem organ dysfunction. In the subsequent human trials, performing DPR had significant effects in several key categories. Traumatically injured patients who received DPR had a significantly shorter time to definitive fascial closure, had a higher likelihood of achieving primary fascial closure, and experienced fewer abdominal complications. The use of DPR has been further expanded as a useful adjunct for emergency general surgery patients and in the pretransplant care of human cadaver organ donors.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis-guided fluid management promotes primary fascial closure after open abdomen: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Fluid overload (FO) after resuscitation is frequent and contributes to adverse outcomes among postinjury open abdomen (OA) patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a promising tool for monitoring fluid status and FO. Therefore, we sought to investigate the efficacy of BIA-directed fluid resuscitation among OA patients.

METHODS

A pragmatic, prospective, randomized, observer-blind, single-center trial was performed for all trauma patients requiring OA between January 2013 and December 2017 to a national referral center. A total of 140 postinjury OA patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a BIA-directed fluid resuscitation (BIA) protocol that included fluid administration with monitoring of hemodynamic parameters and different degrees of interventions to achieve a negative fluid balance targeting the hydration level (HL) measured by BIA or a traditional fluid resuscitation (TRD) in which clinicians determined the fluid resuscitation regimen according to traditional parameters during 30 days of ICU management. The primary outcome was the 30-day primary fascial closure (PFC) rate. The secondary outcomes included the time to PFC, postoperative 7-day cumulative fluid balance (CFB) and adverse events within 30 days after OA. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were utilized for PFC after OA. A generalized linear regression model for the time to PFC and CFB was built.

RESULTS

A total of 134 patients completed the trial (BIA, n = 66; TRD, n = 68). The BIA patients were significantly more likely to achieve PFC than the TRD patients (83.33% vs. 55.88%, P < 0.001). In the BIA group, the time to PFC occurred earlier than that of the TRD group by an average of 3.66 days (P < 0.001). Additionally, the BIA group showed a lower postoperative 7-day CFB by an average of 6632.80 ml (P < 0.001) and fewer complications.

CONCLUSION

Among postinjury OA patients in the ICU, the use of BIA-guided fluid resuscitation resulted in a higher PFC rate and fewer severe complications than the traditional fluid resuscitation strategy.

An open and closed case: timing of closure following laparostomy

INTRODUCTION

Laparostomy is important in the management of patients with intra-abdominal gastrointestinal catastrophe or trauma. It carries significant risk and is resource intensive, both in terms of nursing and surgically. The main goal is to achieve prompt myofascial closure (MFC) in order to minimise morbidity and mortality. Early MFC was initially defined as within 2-3 weeks but there is growing evidence that this should be measured in days.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was undertaken of laparostomy cases between 2016 and 2018 at an acute trust and trauma centre serving a population of 500,000. Indication, duration of open abdomen (OA), number of relook procedures and consultant presence were examined to see whether they affected MFC rates, morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 76 laparostomies were performed during the 3-year study period. The most common indication was peritonitis (68.4%). As duration of OA and number of relook procedures increased, the chances of MFC fell significantly. After day 1, MFC rates fell by 20% with each subsequent 24 hours. Leaving the abdomen open primarily at index procedure compared with performing laparostomy following a postoperative complication was associated with significantly higher MFC rates (92.6% vs 68.2%, (p=0.006). The mortality rate was 15.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

If the OA is not closed within five days or by the third relook procedure, then achieving MFC is unlikely. Alternative methods should be employed to close the abdomen rather than continuing to take the patient back to theatre for relook laparotomies while increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality. A proactive strategy to forming primary laparostomy at the index procedure has high closure rates.

Is there a role for prophylactic mesh in abdominal wall closure after emergency laparotomy? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernias are a common complication of emergency laparotomy and are associated with significant morbidity. Recent studies have found a reduction in incisional hernias when mesh is placed prophylactically during abdominal closure in elective laparotomies. This systematic review will assess the safety and efficacy of prophylactic mesh placement in emergency laparotomy.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the PROSPERO registered protocol (CRD42018109283). Papers were dual screened for eligibility, and included when a comparison was made between closure with prophylactic mesh and closure with a standard technique, reported using a comparative design (i.e. case-control, cohort or randomised trial), where the primary outcome was incisional hernia. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias in non-randomised studies tool. A meta-analysis of incisional hernia rate was performed to estimate risk ratio using a random effects model (Mantel-Haenszel approach).

RESULTS

332 studies were screened for eligibility, 29 full texts were reviewed and 2 non-randomised studies were included. Both studies were biased due to confounding factors, as closure technique was based on patient risk factors for incisional hernia. Both studies found significantly fewer incisional hernias in the mesh groups [3.2% vs 28.6% (p < 0.001) and 5.9% vs 33.3% (p = 0.0001)]. A meta-analysis of incisional hernia risk favoured prophylactic mesh closure [risk ratio 0.15 (95% CI 0.6-0.35, p < 0.001)]. Neither study found an association between mesh and infection or enterocutaneous fistula.

CONCLUSION

This review found that there are limited data to assess the effect or safety profile of prophylactic mesh in the emergency laparotomy setting. The current data cannot reliably assess the use of mesh due to confounding factors, and a randomised controlled trial is required to address this important clinical question.

Outcomes after single-look trauma laparotomy: A large population-based study

BACKGROUND

Outcomes following damage control laparotomy for trauma have been studied in detail. However, outcomes following a single operation, or "single-look trauma laparotomy" (SLTL), have not. We evaluated the association between SLTL and both short-term and long-term outcomes in a large population-based data set.

METHODS

The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database was evaluated for calendar years 2007 through 2014. Injured patients with SLTL during their index admission were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes. Diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify specific abdominal organ injuries, surgical interventions, and perioperative complications. Subsequent acute care admissions were examined for postoperative complications and related surgical interventions. Clinical characteristics, injuries, surgical interventions, and outcomes were analyzed by mechanism of injury.

RESULTS

There were 2113 patients with SLTL during their index admission; 712 (33.7%) had at least one readmission to an acute care facility. Median time to first readmission was 110 days. Penetrating mechanism was more common than blunt (60.6% vs. 39.4%). Compared to patients with penetrating injury, blunt-injured patients had a significantly higher median Injury Severity Score (9 vs. 18, p < 0.0001) and a significantly higher mortality rate during the index admission (4.1% vs. 27.0%, p < 0.0001). More than 30% of SLTL patients requiring readmission had a surgery-related complication. The most common primary reasons for readmission were bowel obstruction (17.7%), incisional hernia (11.8%), and infection (9.1%). There was no significant association between mechanism of injury and development of surgery-related complications requiring readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with SLTL had postinjury morbidity and mortality, and more than 30% required readmission. Complication rates for SLTL were comparable to those reported for emergency general surgery procedures. Patients should be educated on signs and symptoms of the most common complications before discharge following SLTL. Further investigation should focus on the factors associated with the development of these complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.

Effect of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents on Sedation Requirements in Trauma Patients with an Open Abdomen

The appropriate level of sedation in patients with an open abdomen following damage control laparotomy (DCL) is debated. Chemical paralysis with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) has been used to decrease time to abdominal closure. We sought to evaluate the effect of NMBA use on sedation requirements in patients with an open abdomen and to determine the effect of sedation on patient outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an American College of Surgeons' verified level 1 trauma center. Adult trauma patients who underwent DCL between 2009 and 2015 were included. Patients with an intensive care unit length of stay of less than 48 hours and those who died before abdominal closure were excluded. The NMBA+ group received continuous NMBA within 24 hours of DCL; the NMBA- group did not. The primary outcome was cumulative sedation dose during the 7 days following DCL. Secondary outcomes included Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score, mechanical ventilation-free days, and delirium-coma-free days. Delirium-coma-free days were analyzed with linear regression. A total of 222 patients were included (NMBA+ 125; NMBA- 97). Demographics were similar between groups including age, Injury Severity Score, and mechanism of injury. The median time to closure in the overall cohort was 2 days (interquartile range [IQR] 1-2 days). Propofol and fentanyl were the primary sedatives used. The NMBA+ group received higher cumulative doses of propofol (NMBA+ 5405 mg, IQR 3103-10,573 mg; NMBA- 3601 mg, IQR 1605-6887 mg; p=0.007), but not of fentanyl. Time to abdominal closure, but not NMBA use, was associated with a higher cumulative propofol dose on multivariate analysis. The NMBA+ group had significantly lower RASS scores on the first 3 days following DCL. Mechanical ventilation-free days (NMBA+ 20 days vs NMBA- 18 days, p=0.960) and delirium-coma-free days (NMBA+ 18 days vs NMBA- 18 days, p=0.610) were similar between the groups. On linear regression, cumulative propofol dose was associated with fewer delirium-coma-free days (β-coefficient -0.007, 95% confidence interval -0.015 to -0.003). In trauma patients managed with DCL, higher cumulative sedative doses were administered in patients who received adjunctive NMBA, although NMBA therapy was not associated with a higher cumulative propofol dose on multivariate analysis. Consideration must be given to the potential effect of sedation on delirium and awakening following DCL.

Effectiveness and safety of continuous neuromuscular blockade in trauma patients with an open abdomen: A follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) have been associated with decreased time to fascial closure following damage control laparotomy (DCL). Changes in resuscitation over the last decade bring this practice into question.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of adults who underwent DCL between 2009 and 2015 was conducted at an ACS-verified level 1 trauma center. The study group (NMBA+) received continuous NMBA within 24 h of DCL. Data collected included demographics, resuscitative fluids, mortality, and complications. The primary outcome was time to fascial closure. Factors associated with abdominal closure were determined by ordinal logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 222 patients included (NMBA+ 125; NMBA- 97). Demographics were similar, including median age (NMBA+ 36; NMBA- 39 years) and ISS (NMBA+ 29; NMBA- 34). There was no difference in median time to closure (NMBA+ 2; NMBA- 2 days) or the incidence of complications (NMBA+ 64%; NMBA- 59%). In a regression model, NMBA exposure was not associated with time to abdominal closure.

CONCLUSIONS

In adult trauma patients requiring DCL, continuous NMBA did not affect the time to abdominal closure.

The Evolution of Damage Control in Concept and Practice

Damage control surgery (DCS) began as an adjunct approach to hemorrhage control, seeking to facilitate the body's innate clotting ability when direct repair or ligation was impossible, but it has since become a valuable instrument for a broader collection of critically ill surgical patients in whom metabolic dysfunction is the more immediate threat to life than imminent exsanguination. Modern damage control is a strategy that combines the principles of DCS with those of damage control resuscitation. When used correctly, damage control may improve survival in previously unsalvageable patients; when used incorrectly, it can subject patients to imprudent risk and contribute to morbidity. This review discusses the evolution of damage control in both concept and practice, summarizing available literature and experience to guide patient selection, medical decision-making, and strategy implementation throughout the preoperative, intraoperative, and early postoperative periods.

Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Peritoneal Resuscitation in the Management of Trauma Patients Undergoing Damage Control Surgery

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal resuscitation (PR) represents a unique modality of treatment for severely injured trauma patients requiring damage control surgery. These data represent the outcomes of a single institution randomized controlled trial into the efficacy of PR as a management option in these patients.

STUDY DESIGN

From 2011 to 2015, one hundred and three patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial evaluating the use of PR in the treatment of patients undergoing damage control surgery compared with conventional resuscitation (CR) alone. Patient demographics, clinical variables, and outcomes were collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed with a priori significance at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

After initial screening, 52 patients were randomized to the PR group and 51 to the CR group. Age, sex, initial pH, and mechanism of injury were used for randomization. Method of abdominal closure was standardized across groups. Time to definitive abdominal closure was reduced in the PR group compared with the CR group (4.1 ± 2.2 days vs 5.9 ± 3.5 days; p ≤ 0.002). Volume of resuscitation and blood products transfused in the initial 24 hours was not different between the groups. Primary fascial closure rate was higher in the PR group (83% vs 66%; p ≤ 0.05). Intra-abdominal complications were lower in the PR compared with the CR group (8% vs 18%), with abscess formation rate (3% vs 14%; p < 0.05) being significant. Patients in the PR group had a lower 30-day mortality rate, despite similar Injury Severity Scores (13% vs 28%; p = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Peritoneal resuscitation enhances management of damage control surgery patients by reducing time to definitive abdominal closure, intra-abdominal infections, and mortality rates.

Mortality in trauma patients with active arterial bleeding managed by embolization or surgical packing: An observational cohort study of 66 patients

Objective:

Exsanguination due to coagulopathy and vascular injury is a common cause of death among trauma patients. Arterial injury can be treated either by angiography and embolization or by explorative laparotomy and surgical packing. The purpose of this study was to compare 30-day mortality and blood product consumption in trauma patients with active arterial haemorrhage in the abdominal and/or pelvic region treated with either angiography and embolization or explorative laparotomy and surgical packing.

Material and Methods:

From January 1^st 2006 to December 31^st 2011 2,173 patients with an ISS of >9 were admitted to the Trauma Centre of Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Of these, 66 patients met the inclusion criteria: age above 15 years and active arterial haemorrhage from the abdominal and/or pelvic region verified by a CT scan at admission. Gender, age, initial oxygen saturation, pulse rate and respiratory rate, mechanism of injury, ISS, Probability of Survival, treatment modality, 30-day mortality and number and type of blood products applied were retrieved from the TARN database, patient records and the Danish Civil Registration System.

Results:

Thirty-one patients received angiography and embolization, and 35 patients underwent exploratory laparotomy and surgical packing. Gender, age, initial oxygen saturation, pulse rate and respiratory rate, ISS and Probability of Survival were comparable in the two groups.

Conclusion:

A significant increased risk of 30-day mortality (P = 0.04) was found in patients with active bleeding treated with explorative laparotomy and surgical packing compared to angiography and embolization when data was adjusted for age and ISS. No statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in number of transfused blood products applied in the two groups of patients.

Management and closure of the open abdomen after damage control laparotomy for trauma. A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Damage control laparotomy for trauma (DCL) entails immediate control of haemorrhage and contamination, temporary abdominal closure (TAC), a period of physiological stabilisation, then definitive repair of injuries. Although immediate primary fascial closure is desired, fascial retraction and visceral oedema may dictate an alternate approach. Our objectives were to systematically identify and compare methods for restoration of fascial continuity when primary closure is not possible following DCL for trauma, to simplify these into a standardised map, and describe the ideal measures of process and outcome for future studies.

METHODS

Cochrane, OVID (Medline, AMED, Embase, HMIC) and PubMed databases were accessed using terms: (traum*, damage control, abbreviated laparotomy, component separation, fascial traction, mesh closure, planned ventral hernia (PVH), and topical negative pressure (TNP)). Randomised Controlled Trials, Case Series and Cohort Studies reporting TAC and early definitive closure methods in trauma patients undergoing DCL were included. Outcomes were mortality, days to fascial closure, hospital length of stay, abdominal complications and delayed ventral herniation.

RESULTS

26 studies described and compared early definitive closure methods; delayed primary closure (DPC), component separation (CS) and mesh repair (MR), among patients with an open abdomen after DCL for trauma. A three phase map was developed to describe the temporal and sequential attributes of each technique. Significant heterogeneity in nomenclature, terminology, and reporting of outcomes was identified. Estimates for abdominal complications in DPC, MR and CS groups were 17%, 41% and 17% respectively, while estimates for mortality in DPC and MR groups were 6% and 0.5% (data heterogeneity and requirement of fixed and random effects models prevented significance assessment). Estimates for abdominal closure in the MR and DPC groups differed; 6.30 (95% CI=5.10-7.51), and 15.90 (95% CI=9.22-22.58) days respectively. Reporting poverty prevented subgroup estimate generation for ventral hernia and hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSION

Component separation or mesh repair may be valid alternatives to delayed primary closure following a trauma DCL. Comparisons were hampered by the lack of uniform reporting and bias. We propose a new system of standardised nomenclature and reporting for further investigation and management of the post-DCL open abdomen.