ABRA Abdominal Closure System in Open Abdomen Management (ABRA)

A Prospective, Controlled Evaluation of ABRA Abdominal Wall Closure System in Combination With V.A.C. Therapy Compared to V.A.C. Alone in the Management of Open Abdomen

For the last 20 to 30 years, damage control laparotomy and decompressive laparotomy have emerged as part of the armamentariums for treatment of complex abdominal trauma, abdominal compartment syndrome, and critically ill surgical patients with profound acidosis. While these advances have saved lives, they have also led to a dramatic increase in patients with open abdominal cavities. Various methods have been employed to offer protection to the viscera and at the same time, encourage gradual closure of the abdominal fascia. Some of the techniques have included the Bogota bag, vacuum pack described by Barker , Wittman patch , and the use of vacuum assisted fascia-closure, including the commercially available system offered by KCI. Overall, the abdominal closure rate is approximately 50% to 90% over an average of 10 days. Unfortunately, there has been no well-designed comparison study available. Some of the best results also require returning to the operating room every 3 to 5 days.

At the University of Kentucky Medical Center, a combination of the vacuum pack dressing described by Barker, the commercially available VAC system (V.A.C.; KCI International, San Antonio, TX) and vicryl mesh closure systems are used. The primary fascial closure rate is approximately 50%. It is not standard practice to take patients to the OR every 3-5 days routinely.

Recently, a new FDA listed system (ABRA by Canica) has been introduced using a progressive tension system as a novel approach to the management of open abdomen. ABRA provides a dynamic reduction of full thickness, severely retracted midline abdominal defects with the goal of maintaining or restoring the primary closure option. This subdermal method uses button anchors and elastomer to gradually pull the wound margins together. Tension can be set and adjusted according to the desired outcome; to stabilize a retracted wound, reduce the wound, close the wound or prevent wound dehiscence (Attachment 1: Company brochure). Currently there is only one published case report of the success of this device. We hope to be the first center to prospectively report a series of patients with open abdomen managed with the new ABRA system. In this study, this system will be used in combination with a standard therapy used in abdominal wound closure at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. This system is called the V.A.C system (V.A.C.; KCI International, San Antonio, Tx). This therapy provides active exudate management and containment, assists in reducing abdominal volume and adds structural stabilization to adipose tissue.

Although no highly powered study has been done to establish data on performance, individual experiences at several institutions have reached fascial closure rates of higher than 70% using the ABRA device. One institution in Las Vegas, Nevada is using the ABRA device in combination with the VAC system and has experienced 100% closure rate to date with 12 patients. The purpose of this study is to collect information about the ABRA system in combination with the VAC technique at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. It is our belief that using this system will improve the fascial closure rate and thereby produce less chance of hernia and reduce long periods of open abdominal wounds. The objective of the study is to evaluate a novel approach for closure of open abdomen utilizing the Canica ABRA system combined with the K.C.I. VAC System to KCI VAC System alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Open Abdomen
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: V.A.C. Therapy; Device: KCI ABThera; Device: ABRA Abdominal Closure System

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Kentucky
    • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40536
      • University of Kentucky Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ages of 18 and 70
2. patients deemed not a candidate for primary fascial closure at the second laparotomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. High risk for imminent death, as determined by the attending surgeon and PI
2. Pre-existing large ventral hernia
3. Significant loss of abdominal wall fascia as a result of trauma or infection
4. Known Crohn's disease
5. Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1 ABRA plus KCI ABThera or KCI VAC; ABRA Abdominal Wound Closure System in combination with KCI ABThera or KCI VAC	Device: V.A.C. Therapy; V.A.C. Therapy Alone; Device: KCI ABThera; KCI ABThera
Active Comparator: KCI V.A.C. Therapy or ABThera Alone; KCI V.A.C. Therapy ABThera Alone	Device: V.A.C. Therapy; V.A.C. Therapy Alone; Device: KCI ABThera; KCI ABThera; Device: ABRA Abdominal Closure System; ABRA Abdominal Closure System

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Primary Closure Rate	The rate in which the abdomen was closed the first time.	up to 12 months
Number of Trips to the Operating Room		12 Months
Operating Room Time Utilization	The amount of time needed to manage the open abdomen inside the operating room.	Duration of Hospital Stay less than 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Days to Closure	Duration of Hospital Stay less than 6 months
ICU Days	Duration of hospital stay less than 6 months
Hospital Days	Duration of Hospital Stay less than 6 months
Blood Transfused	Duration of Hospital Stay less than 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Anna Rockich
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Phillip Chang, M.D., University of Kentucky

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 16, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): September 17, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 3, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2017
• Last Verified: February 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Closure, Wounds
• Other Study ID Numbers: 07-0694-F2L