ABSTRACT
With the evolution of “damage control” laparotomy and “goal directed” ICU resuscitation as standards of care for trauma patients arriving with life threatening hemorrhage, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) has emerged to be a virtual epidemic in busy trauma centers worldwide. Many alternative management strategies have been described to minimize risk of ACS and to manage the consequent open abdomens. To date, virtually all of this information is based on retrospective data analysis; no prospective comparative data exists. The purpose of this chapter is to briefly describe alternative methods of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) and review how we incorporate these techniques into the surgical management of ACS, acknowledging that our approach to this vexing problem continues to evolve.
