Short summary

Our project centres the use of Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), a method for temporary closure of the abdominal wall in cases of trauma or severe inflammation of the peritoneum (peritonitis), focusing on damage control cases in paediatric patients. Damage control is a critical intervention aimed at stabilizing patients and managing intra-abdominal conditions.

Rationale

Abdominal trauma and severe peritonitis in the paediatric population present challenges in surgical management, demanding precise interventions to optimize outcomes.

Within the evolution of procedures aiming to speed up and improve wound healing, the application of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) holds the potential to influence wound healing, post-operative complications and overall patient outcomes.

However, within the pediatric population, where pediatric patients may be in various stages of growth and development, impacting wound healing factors such as age and underlying conditions may vary widely, a comprehensive understanding of the procedural aspects and outcomes is limited.

The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to describe and document the outcomes associated with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for damage-control laparotomy in paediatric patients diagnosed with abdominal trauma or severe peritonitis. By analyzing and detailing a limited dataset with a small group of patients, the study seeks to provide an understanding of the procedural aspects and outcomes associated with VAC application.

Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for damage-control surgery is a well-established surgical method within adult surgery in case of both trauma and severe peritonitis. Within paediatric surgery, the method is very sparsely described in the literature, but is widely used in the clinic. VAC is a surgical method for temporarily closing the abdominal wall in critical ill patients where further surgery or control of the intra-abdominal conditions is necessary.

Description of the cohort

Type of participants included: Pediatric patients from surgery department (A) in Odense, Denmark. Diagnosis: Peritonitis or abdominal trauma. All patients admitted to the hospital for an elective surgery which later got complicated with (ex.) peritonitis and also patients with peritonitis/ abdominal trauma as primary diagnosis.

Data and biological material

-Blood sample - Clinical data from performed surgeries - Data from patient journals: - Reason for hospitalization - Known congenital conditions or birth defects - Current and past medical condition - Previous surgeries or hospitalizations - Complications - Vacuum-assisted closure procedure