Dynamic Parietal Closure: Initial Experience of an Original Parietal Closure Procedure for Treatment of Abdominal Wound Dehiscence FREE

Abdominal wound dehiscence complicates between 0.2% and 10% of midline laparotomies¹ and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (44% and 67%, respectively).^2- 3 The surgeons who perform digestive surgery and plastic surgery at our institution have considered how to treat abdominal wound dehiscence. Given that preoperative risk factors cannot be modified in an emergency setting,^1- 2 we added some specific plastic surgery procedures to the conventional parietal closure technique. We thus developed a “dynamic parietal closure” technique in which silicone loop sutures are used to strengthen a conventional aponeurotic closure. The procedure is simple, quick, inexpensive, and compatible with digestive stomas and complex peritoneal drainage. It has the advantages but not the disadvantages of the use of retention sutures or abdominal wall plastic surgery.⁴

Before dynamic parietal closure for the treatment of abdominal wound dehiscence is performed (video), if any drains are in place, then externalization of the stoma(s), bowel replacement, and parietal disinfection are performed as usual.

At the time of parietal closure, successive mass closures were performed along the entire length of the median laparotomy with elastic silicone loops (45 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter [Ethiloop; Ethicon, Somerville, New Jersey]). Each loop was screwed onto the proximal end of a needle (as in drain externalization) and was placed transfascially across the wound to obtain a U-shaped suture every 4 cm.

Once the dynamic parietal closure technique has been performed along the entire length of the laparotomy, we adjusted the tension. This pushed back the digestive tract and closed the aponeurotic edges to yield a tension-free suture. The locking system comes from the Gripper Plus safety needle (Smith Medical, Brisbane, Australia).

We used a continuous, aponeurotic suture (PDS; Ethicon, Somerville, New Jersey).⁵ The skin was closed conventionally. Lastly, the dynamic parietal closure's tension was adjusted, and compresses were placed between the skin and the loops (Figure).

The surgical site was examined every 48 hours, and the elastomer tension was adjusted so that constant force was applied. Abdominal dressings were positioned and changed conventionally until the laparotomy was dry. Abscesses were treated conventionally (vacuum therapy was feasible, if required). The surgeon removed the system 21 days later in the consultation room (by cutting and then pulling out the elastomer loops).

We performed a prospective study of 873 consecutive patients who underwent a midline laparotomy during the period from January 2009 to December 2010. The overall incidence rate for abdominal wound dehiscence (diagnosed clinically within 2 weeks of the operation) was 2.06% (n = 18), with incidence rates of emergency and planned abdominal wound dehiscence of 2.23% and 1.19%, respectively. In all cases of abdominal wound dehiscence, we performed an emergency procedure to redo the midline laparotomy, examine the abdominal cavity (to check for infection), and then perform the dynamic parietal closure technique. Two patients were excluded because they died in the hospital 18 and 20 days after surgery, respectively (mortality rate, 11.1%). Prospectively, we analyzed the data for 16 patients. The median Webster and Mäkela scores were 13 (range, 2-26) and 2 (range, 0-3), respectively. The etiology of abdominal wound dehiscence was mechanical in 12 patients and septic in 4 patients. The abdominal wound dehiscence recurrence rate was 0%. Specific and overall morbidity and mortality rates are shown in the Table. The midline incisional hernia rate was 25% (diagnosed clinically or on the basis of a computed tomographic scan) according to the medical literature criteria.³ The median follow-up period was 157 days. Material costs never exceeded $27 per patient.

Dynamic parietal closure is an original, easy, inexpensive, and efficient procedure. It must be evaluated with larger numbers of patients. In individuals with a very high risk of abdominal wound dehiscence, the dynamic parietal closure technique could perhaps be performed preventively.

Correspondence: Dr Regimbeau, Department of General, Visceral, and Digestive Surgery, Amiens North Hospital, University of Picardy Medical Centre, Place Victor Pauchet, F-80054 Amiens CEDEX 01, France (regimbeau.jean-marc@chu-amiens.fr).

Author Contributions:Study concept and design: Qassemyar, Browet, Robbe, Verhaeghe, and Regimbeau. Acquisition of data: Qassemyar and Browet. Analysis and interpretation of data: Browet, Robbe, Verhaeghe, and Regimbeau. Drafting of the manuscript: Qassemyar, Browet, and Verhaeghe. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Robbe and Regimbeau. Administrative, technical, and material support: Qassemyar and Browet. Study supervision: Robbe, Verhaeghe, and Regimbeau.

Financial Disclosure: None reported.