[Abdominal wall defects caused by postoperative infections]

Infectious defects of the abdominal wall often result from deeper subfascial infections of the abdominal wall caused by a persisting intraabdominal inflammation or the result of laparotomy in peritonitis. Therapies applied are first of all the removal of the sources of infection and a careful debridement of the abdominal wall. There are several ways of temporarily covering the abdominal wall, but there is no ingenious solution. In our own experience the application of zip fastening and PGS nets have proved successful. In case of deeper infections of the abdominal wall the most awkward situation is the laying open of small intestine loops in a granulating wound which may lead to a revitalization of chronic small intestine fistulae. In these cases a differentiated and repeated surgical approach and extensive resection of small intestine parts, and consequently a high rate of complications and lethality cannot be avoided. Extensive defects of the abdominal wall exposing parts of small intestines after such operations require temporary covering and in this case we use Vypro net which, under the most favourable circumstances, can represent a final solution.