The records of patients with an OA managed by a single surgeon using the ABRA device at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia, between December 2014 and April 2020 were analysed retrospectively.
Six patients with OA were managed with the ABRA. All patients required an OA for the ramification of intraabdominal sepsis. Three patients were managed with the ABRA device electively and three in the acute setting. 100% of patients achieved PFC. Average follow-up was 40 months with three developing incisional hernias that were subsequently repaired.
The OA in critically ill surgical patients remains one of the most challenging problems in general surgery. The ABRA device is simple to use and has shown positive outcomes in both the acute and elective setting. Our use has resulted in 100% PFC, which demonstrates that the ABRA device is an important tool for the general surgeon in managing these complex cases.