Wound Dehiscence Part 4

This part explains treatment options for wound dehiscence and references for this work


Treatment:

Non-Operative:

Patient very unstable and there has been no evisceration. Preferably to treat non-operatively:
  • Guaze packing of the wound or covering it with a sterile occlusive dressing
  • Abdominal binder may be used to support disrupted abdominal wound
  • Wound may subsequently contact to closure, or if the patient's condition improves, delayed operative closure may be performed.
  • Hernia is a common sequela
Operative Treatment:
  • For most patients immediate re-operation is indicated
  • Most common technique is immediate resuture with retention sutures
  • Pre-operative broad spectrum antibiotics should be given
Technique:
  1. Free the omentum and bowel for a short distance on a deep surface of the wound on both sides
  2. Insert deep retention sutures, and then proceed with mass closure of the abdominal wall. 
  3. Be certain to take deep bites of tissues, using plenty of suture material, and avoid excessive tension on the wound.
  4. Close the skin fairly loosely and consider using a superficial wound drain.
  5. In the presence of gross wound sepsis, leave the skin open and pack
Retention Sutures: Basic Principles:


  • Use heavy non-absorbable suture e.g. No.1 monofilament nylon
  • wide interrupted bites of at least 3cm from the wound edge and a stitch interval of 3cm or less
  • either external (incorporating all layers peritoneum through to skin) or internal (all layers except skin) may be used.
  • Internal retention sutures avoid producing an unsightly ladderpattern scar, however they are unable to be removed subsequently (increased infection risk) a buttress device is used to prevent suture erosion into the skin e.g. thread each suture through a short length (5-6 cm) of plastic or rubber tubing do not tie too tightly external retention sutures area usually left in for at least 3 weeks
The Uncloseable:
  • major abdominal trauma
  • grosss abdominal sepsis
  • retroperitoneum hematoma e.g. post ruptured AAA
  • Loss of abdominal wall tissue e.g. necrotizing fasciitis
  • attempted closure may lead abdominal compartment syndrome
Options:
Temporarily close abdomen by packing the wound and taking a further look in 24-48 hours.
OR
Mesh closure of the abdomen
  • The defect is bridged with one or two layers of a prosthetic mesh
  • The mesh is sutured in place with sutures that penetrate the full thickness of wound
Desirable Result:
Granulation tissue formation ultimately result in a surface that can be covered with a split-skin graft

Prosthetic Mesh:
Absorbable mesh (polyglycolic acid eg. Dexon)
  • temporary closure
  • good for infected abdomen
  • subsequent incision hernia inevitable
Polypropylene mesh (eg. Prolene, Marlex):
  • erosion into bowel and fistula formation
  • dense adhesion formation
  • quite tolerant of infection
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) (eg. Goretex):
  • Soft and pliable
  • less adhesions to bowel
  • tolerates infection poorly
  • Once well enough and intestinal edema has resolved, usually return to operating theatre for attempt at abdominal wall closure

References:
  1.  Hampton J. R., B.M. The Burst Abdomen. British Medical Journal 1963 Oct 1032-35
  2.  Bucknall T E, Cox P J, Ellis Harold. Burst abdomen and incisional hernia: a prospective study of 1129 major laparotomies. British Medical Journal 1982 284:931-33
  3.  Ramshorst G. Abdominal Wound Dehiscence in Adults: Development and Validation of a Risk Model. World J Surg 2010 34:20–27 [PMID: 19898894 ]
  4. Bucknall T. E. Factors influencing wound complications: A clinical and experimental study. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 1983 65:71-77
  5. Lotfy, Wael. Burst Abdomen: Is it a Preventable Complication. Egyptian Journal of Surgery 2009 July 28(3):128-32
  6. Carlson MA. Acute Wound Failure. Surgical Clinics of North America 1997 77:607- 636
  7. Keill RH, Keitzer WF, Nichols WK, Henzel J and De Weese MS. Abdominal wound dehiscence. Arch Surg 1973 106:573-7
  8. Reitamo J., and Moller C. Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica 1972 138:170
  9. Alexander, H. C. and Prudden, J. F. The causes of abdominal wound disruption. Surg., Gynec g: Obst. 1966 122:1223-1229
  10. Goligher, J C, et al. British Journal of Surgery 1975 62:823
  11. Standeven, A. Lancet 1955 1:533
  12. Haxton, H A. British Journal of Surgery 1963 50:534
  13. Spiliotis John. Wound dehiscence: is still a problem in the 21th century: a retrospective study. World Journal of Emergency Surgery. 2009 4:12
  14. Kirk R.M. The Incidence of Burst Abdomen: Comparison of Layered Opening and Closing with Straight-through One-layered Closure. Lancet 1972 ii 352
  15. Jenkins, T P N. British Journal of Surgery 1976 63:873
  16. Dudley HAF. Layered and mass closure of the abdominal wall - a theoretical and experimental analysis. Br J Surg 1970 57:664-7
  17. Gupta Himanshu et al. Comparison of Interrupted Versus Continuous Closure in Abdominal Wound Repair: A Meta-analysis of 23 Trials. Asian Journal of Surgery 2008 July 31(3):104 - 114
  18. Varshney Subodh, Manekt Parimal, Johnsont CD. Six-fold suture:wound length ratio for abdominal closure. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1999 81:333-336
  19. Weiland DE, Bay RC, Del Sordi S. Choosing the Best Abdominal Closure by Meta-analysis. American Journal of Surgery 1998 176:666-670
  20. Hodgson N. C. F., Malthaner R. A. The Search for an Ideal Method of Abdominal Fascial Closure: A Meta-Analysis. Annals of Surgery. 2000 231(3):436–442
  21. Varshney Subodh, Manekt Parimal, Johnsont CD. Six-fold suture:wound length ratio for abdominal closure. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1999 81:333-336
  22. Cengiz Yucel, Blomquist Peter, Israelsson Leif A. Small Tissue Bites and Wound Strength: An Experimental Study. Arch Surg. 2001 136: 272-275
  23. Ellis Harold, Coleridge-Smith Philip D., Joyce Adrian D. Abdominal incisions-vertical or transverse?. Postgraduate Medical Journal 1984 june 60:407-410
  24. Burger J. W. A., Riet M. van ‘t, Jeekel J. Abdominal incisions: techniques and postoperative complications. Scandinavian Journal of Surgery. 2002 91:315–321
  25. Nagy KK, Fildes JJ, Mahr C, et al. Experience with three Prosthetic Materials in Temporary Abdominal Wall Closure. American Surgeon 1996 62:331-335

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