Open abdomen management of intra-abdominal sepsis

Despite surgical advances, antimicrobial therapy, and intensive care, the morbidity and mortality of intra-abdominal sepsis remains high. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether open abdomen management of intra-abdominal sepsis reduces intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality. The records of 81 consecutive patients with open abdomen management for intra-abdominal sepsis admitted to the surgical ICU from January 1998 to April 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes were compared to a historical control group with primary abdominal closure, also admitted to the surgical ICU with intra-abdominal sepsis and matched for sex, age, source of sepsis, and APACHE III score. ICU mortality for the open abdomen group was 25 per cent versus 17 per cent for the control group. Hospital mortality was 33 per cent and 25 per cent for the open abdomen patients and historical controls, respectively. Both ICU and hospital length of stay were significantly longer for the open abdomen group. An overall fistula rate of 14.8 per cent was demonstrated in the open abdomen patients. A significant difference in overall ICU and hospital mortality was not demonstrated between patients treated with open abdomen management and historical controls. A prospective randomized study accounting for extent of sepsis may define a role for open abdomen management in selected subgroups of patients.     

Damage control for intra-abdominal sepsis

With the success of damage-control surgery for the treatment of exsanguinating truncal trauma, it has been adapted to other surgical diseases associated with shock states, such as severe secondary peritonitis. The structured approach of damage control is easily adapted to and can incorporate the fundamental elements of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. It is not meant to replace tried and true surgical principles, such as source control, but is a usable framework in managing the complicated circumstances seen with these patients.     

Treatment of intra-abdominal sepsis

Twenty-three surgeons at three McGill University hospitals were interviewed about their treatment of intra-abdominal sepsis. They described their use of antibiotics, operative practices and other treatment of generalized peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses. If more than 75% of respondents used a given method, its use was considered "uniform" unless substantial interhospital variation existed for that method. Treatment was variable in 18 situations. Only four of these involved systemic antibiotic use--drug regimens in appendicitis and intra-abdominal abscess, and duration of antibiotic therapy following appendicitis and perforated duodenal ulcer. The other 14 examples of variation were in operative management. In generalized peritonitis, they were: use of diagnostic paracentesis; abdominal lavage with saline alone versus saline plus antibiotic use; whether the peritoneum should ever be left open; the use or avoidance of drains; primary versus delayed wound closure in appendicitis, bowel perforation and trauma with gastrointestinal perforation and, finally, wound lavage with saline alone or with antibiotics. Treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses varied in regard to the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of percutaneous needle aspiration, the preferred route of drainage of a pelvic abscess, the use of an extra- or trans-serosal approach to a subphrenic abscess, local versus full abdominal exploration for a single abscess and the type of drain used. The authors conclude that operative management of intra-abdominal sepsis varies widely among surgeons. This fact invalidates many "controlled" trials of antibiotics and should focus attention less on drugs and more on surgical treatment.     

Management of intra-abdominal sepsis

The management of intra-abdominal sepsis includes drainage of septic foci, debridement of devitalized tissue, and prevention of continuing peritoneal contamination. An algorithm is presented as an aid to the thought process.     

Fascial dehiscence after trauma laparotomy: a sign of intra-abdominal sepsis

Fascial dehiscence (FD) after trauma laparotomy is associated with technical failure, wound sepsis, or intra-abdominal infection (IAI). The association of IAI with FD is inadequately evaluated. Knowing about its presence is essential to guide clinical diagnosis and management. Our objective was to identify the incidence and risk factors of IAI in patients with FD. We performed a medical record review of 55 trauma patients with FD. Patients with IAI were compared to patients without IAI and FD patients to all trauma laparotomy patients during the same period. Statistical significance was at P < 0.05. Thirty-nine (71%) FD patients had IAI, significantly higher than all trauma laparotomies (4.6%, P < 0.0001). Only 31 per cent of patients underwent laparotomy and drainage while 69 per cent received CT-guided percutaneous drainage followed by expectant management. Similarly, 33 per cent of the non-IAI group had operative management. No differences were found between the two groups in any of the examined factors. The majority of trauma patients with FD have IAI. No clinical or laboratory factors help identify FD patients likely to have IAI. Therefore, FD should be viewed as a sign of possible underlying IAI. Appropriate radiographic imaging or direct visualization of the entire abdominal cavity should be pursued before managing the dehisced fascia.     

The surgical treatment of intra-abdominal sepsis

Intra-abdominal sepsis is frequently seen and dealt with by surgeons. It presents as a spectrum of conditions from uncomplicated localized infection through to complicated sepsis with generalized peritonitis. Complicated sepsis is frequently associated with a local and a systemic inflammatory response. The development of septic shock is associated with a high mortality. The management of this condition involves a multidisciplinary approach with either radiological or surgical procedures required to definitively deal with the source of the sepsis (source control). The range of surgical procedures includes open or laparoscopic techniques depending on the source and the extent of the sepsis. Adjuncts to source control are effective broad-spectrum antibiotic cover and effective fluid resuscitation.     

Gastrointestinal disconnection and the treatment of intra-abdominal sepsis

Current operative treatment for intra-abdominal sepsis secondary to internal gastrointestinal fistulas is aimed at wide drainage of septic foci and elimination of continued peritoneal soilage. Although methods for surgical drainage of abscesses and fistulous tracts are well established, the optimal method for surgical prevention of continued peritoneal soilage remains controversial. The authors applied the principle of complete gastrointestinal disconnection and performed diversion of the gastrointestinal tract and tube decompression proximal to the fistulous opening in the treatment of 22 critically ill patients with intra-abdominal sepsis from gastric or small bowel fistulas. Patient survival varied according to the level of the site of gastrointestinal leakage. All patients (5 out of 5) who had leakage in the distal small bowel survived. Six of nine (66%) patients with leakage from the proximal jejunum and six of eight (75%) of patients with gastroduodenal leakage survived. The overall survival rate of 77 per cent observed in this group of patients supports the authors' hypothesis that complete gastrointestinal disconnection is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of these severely ill patients.     

Non-directed relaparotomy for intra-abdominal sepsis. A futile procedure

Over a 50-month period, 2,657 primary laparotomies were performed; 192 patients underwent urgent relaparotomy for complications of primary laparotomy. Forty-seven relaparotomies were performed for Type I intra-abdominal sepsis (IAS-1) with a 12.8 per cent mortality, and 46 for Type 2 IAS with a 82.6 per cent mortality (P less than 0.001). Of the 46 IAS-2 patients, 31 relaparotomies were "directed" by positive peritoneal signs (CAT/ultrasound/PIPIDA examinations) with 94 per cent (29/31) yielding positive findings. Fifteen were "non-directed" in an effort to uncover an occult source of continuing sepsis of MOSF and yielded a 13 per cent (2/15) positive rate (P less than 0.001), and a 93 per cent (14/15) mortality. Relaparotomy for sepsis directed by positive radiologic or clinical findings can be reliably expected to demonstrate a surgical focus whose correction may yield patient survival; non-directed relaparotomy, however, seldom demonstrates a focus and does not contribute to survival.     

Controlled open drainage of severe intra-abdominal sepsis

Controlled open drainage of the abdomen (gauze in plastic intestinal bag/surgical glove packing of abscesses; wound closure only to the degree needed to prevent evisceration) was compared with closed drainage (soft rubber or sump drains; complete fascial closure) in 31 patients with severe intra-abdominal sepsis. Three (23%) of 13 patients died after open drainage vs eight (44%) of 18 after closed drainage. The difference was attributable to a lower incidence of recurrent abscesses in the former group (one recurrence) than in the latter (six recurrences). Thus, controlled open drainage may improve survival in this highly lethal condition.     

Reticuloendothelial failure in chronic intra-abdominal sepsis: the role of opsonic fibronectin

Severe sepsis leads to depression of the reticuloendothelial (RE) system with delayed bloodstream clearance of particulate matter and bacteria. Fibronectin may be an important opsonin of the RE system and low fibronectin levels often accompany severe sepsis in man. We have investigated the effect of prolonged intra-abdominal sepsis on plasma fibronectin concentrations and RE function. Serial plasma fibronectin concentrations were determined in rabbits for 2 weeks after either the induction of sepsis (appendix abscess) (n = 6) or laparotomy only (n = 6). RE function was measured at 2 weeks by determining the clearance kinetics and organ distribution of low dose technetium tin colloid (TTC). There was an early transient depression in plasma fibronectin values followed by elevated concentrations at 48-72 h which were more marked in the sepsis group. There was a delay in the blood clearance with reduced hepatic and increased bone uptake of TTC. We conclude that depletion of opsonic fibronectin is unlikely to be an important factor contributing to the impairment of RE function associated with intra-abdominal sepsis and that RE depression in septic animals is due to intrinsic Kupffer cell dysfunction.     

Peritoneal fluid: a potential mechanism of systemic neutrophil priming in experimental intra-abdominal sepsis

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that peritoneal fluid (PF) may be an important mediator of inflammation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that PF may drive systemic inflammation in intra-abdominal sepsis by representing a priming agent for neutrophils.MethodsPF was collected 12 hours after the initiation of intra-abdominal sepsis in swine. Naive human neutrophils were primed with PF before treatment with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to elucidate receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms of neutrophil activation. Flow cytometry was used to quantify neutrophil surface adhesion marker expression of integrins and selectins and superoxide anion production. Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines were quantified in PF.ResultsPF primed neutrophils via receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms. There were significant increases in the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor–α in PF correlating with the development of intra-abdominal sepsis.ConclusionsPF represents a priming agent for naive polymorphonuclear cells in intra-abdominal sepsis. This may be secondary to increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Strategies to reduce the amount of PF may decrease the systemic inflammatory response by reducing a priming agent for neutrophils.     

Epiglottopexy: a new surgical technique to prevent intractable aspiration

Severe derangement of the protective function of the larynx results in intractable aspiration with secondary life-threatening pneumonia. The new surgical technique of epiglottopexy is described, which in addition to achieving protection of the laryngeal inlet, allows preservation of speech and in certain cases an adequate laryngeal airway. The advantages over current alternative treatment methods is discussed, and the results of five cases of gross laryngeal incompetence managed by epiglottopexy are presented.     

A new technique of direct intra-abdominal pressure measurement: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if a 14-F polyvinyl chloride (PVC) round drain is a reliable tool for direct intra-abdominal pressure measurement. DESIGN: A prospective interventional study. SETTING: Department of Surgery B, intensive care unit, recovery room, Hillel-Yaffe level II trauma center. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing abdominal surgery and treated postoperatively with intraperitoneal drains and intravesical catheters were included in this study. The indication for insertion of intraperitoneal drains and intravesical catheters was strictly medical. The decision of placing urinary bladder catheter and PVC round drain was done by a senior surgeon. Intra-abdominal pressures were measured simultaneously through the intraperitoneal drain and the urinary catheter. Using a sterile technique, the intraperitoneal drain was disconnected from the drainage bulb and connected to an invasive blood pressure monitoring system. Intravesical pressures were measured by inserting 50 mL into the bladder, and then the urinary catheter was connected to an invasive blood monitoring system. Measurements were done twice a day for 3 days or less if earlier removal of either the intraperitoneal drain or urinary catheters were medically indicated. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-even simultaneous measurements were performed. Pressures as measured through the intraperitoneal drain were found to be significantly correlated to pressures as measured intravesically (r = 0.962). CONCLUSIONS: Direct measurement of the intra-abdominal pressure via a 14-F PVC round drain is a newly described technique. Our method is simple, safe, and credible. Future investigation is needed to confirm the reliability of this method for continuous postoperative measurement of the intra-abdominal pressure in selected patients.     

Laparotomy for intra-abdominal sepsis in patients in an intensive care unit

Patients in an intensive care unit who have intra-abdominal (IA) infections producing clinical deterioration in their conditions require urgent intervention. However, detection is often difficult. To define preoperative criteria for, and improve the specificity of, laparotomy, we reviewed 100 explorations in 71 patients with suspected IA sepsis. Eighty-one explorations demonstrated an infected or ischemic process; 19 were negative. Preoperative features associated with a positive laparotomy were as follows: (1) objective evidence by physical examination, ultrasonography, or computed tomography suggesting an IA focus (89%); (2) septic shock (80%); and (3) positive blood cultures (95%). Absence of these features significantly lowered the accuracy of exploration. Septic shock or bacteremia had a 90% mortality regardless of findings at exploration. The best accuracy (89%) and survival (51%) rates were achieved with "directed" exploration before septic shock or bacteremia. Early use of sensitive detection techniques that permit directed laparotomy before septic deterioration should improve survival.