Avoidance of abdominal compartment syndrome in damage-control laparotomy after trauma

Hypothesis: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a morbid complication of damage-control laparotomy. Moreover, the technique of abdominal closure influences the frequency of ACS. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Urban level I trauma center. Patients: We studied 52 patients with trauma who required damage-control laparotomy during the 5 years ending December 31, 1999, and who survived longer than 48 hours. Main Outcome Measures: Abdominal compartment syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multiple organ failure (MOF). Results: Mean (+/- SD) age was 33+/-2 years; 38 (73%) were male. Mechanism of injury was blunt in 29 patients (56%), and mean (+/-: SD) Injury Severity Score was 28 +/- 2. Development of ARDS and/or MOF was seen in 23 patients (44%); ARDS and MOF increased mortality from 12% (3/26) to 42% (11/26). Abdominal compartment syndrome was a common complication (17/52), and was associated with an increase in ARDS and/or MOF (12 patients [71%] vs 11 patients [31%] without ACS; P=.02, chi (2) test) and death (6 [35%] vs 8 patients [23%] without ACS). Primary. fascial closure (n=10) at the initial laparotomy was associated with ACS in 8 (80%) (P=.001, chi (2) test) and ARDS and/or MOF in 9 (90%) (P=.01, chi (2) test); skin closure (n=25), with ACS in 6 (24%) and ARDS/MOF in 9 (36%); and Bogota bag closure (n=17), with ACS in 3 (18%) and ARDS/MOF in 8 (47%). Conclusions: Damage-control laparotomy is associated with frequent complications. In particular, ACS is a serious complication that increases ARDS and/or MOF and mortality. Avoiding primary fascial closure at the initial laparotomy can minimize the risk for ACS.