TITLE:
Reimagining the Visceral Protective Layer with Tailored Manipulation: A Case Report
AUTHORS:
R. Dewayne Edwards, Luis G. Fernandez, Sean O’Keefe, Michelle Baribault, Marc R. Matthews
KEYWORDS:
Open Abdomen, Temporary Abdominal Closure, Visceral Protective Layer, Loss of Abdominal Domain
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.13 No.2,
January
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: The visceral protective layer is a standard component of the ABTHERATM systems for temporary abdominal closures. Nonetheless, there are circumstances
where the standard, fenestrated visceral protective layer is too large to be
successfully applied into every patient’s open abdomen, such as within the abdomen of a child, smaller adult or a patient with
previously placed ostomies or drains. The fenestrated, visceral
protective layer may require alterations or tailoring for adequate deployment
instead of placing the bulk of the visceral protective layer entirely into the
open abdomen for temporary abdominal closure. This case report illustrates how
the visceral protective layer can be adapted or “reimagined” to conform to a
patient with unique or complex abdominal domain features when utilizing the
ABTHERATM device prior to facial closure or abdominal
wall reconstruction. Photographs are utilized in a step-by-step fashion to aid
the clinician in these detailed maneuvers.