Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy for the Treatment of Anastomotic Leakage after Total Gastrectomy with Esophagojejunostomy
Published on: August 22, 2025
Initial experience of laparostomy with immediate vacuum therapy in patients with severe peritonitis
James Horwood1, Fayaz Akbar, Andrew Maw
1Department of General Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, UK.
Introduction:
To report our initial experience of laparostomy and immediate intra-abdominal vacuum therapy in patients with severe peritonitis due to intra-abdominal catastrophes.
Patients And Methods:
Twenty-seven patients underwent emergency laparotomy and laparostomy formation with the application of immediate intra-abdominal TRAC-VAC therapy (male:female ratio, 1:1.2; median age, 73 years; range, 34-84 years). Predicted mortality was assessed using the P-POSSUM score and compared with clinically observed outcomes.
Results:
Ten patients (37%) with a mean predicted P-POSSUM mortality of 72%, died of sepsis and multi-organ failure. Seventeen patients (mean P-POSSUM 48% expected mortality) survived to discharge. One patient with pancreatitis died from small bowel obstruction 1-year post discharge, two patients developed a small bowel fistula. One patient had an allergic reaction to the VAC dressing. Our patients, treated with laparostomy and TRAC VAC therapy, had a significantly improved observed survival when compared to P-POSSUM expected survival (P = 0.004).
Conclusions:
Laparostomy with immediate intraperitoneal VAC therapy is a robust and effective system to manage patients with intra-abdominal catastrophes. There were significantly improved outcomes compared to the mortality predicted by P-POSSUM scores. Damage control surgery with laparostomy formation and intra-abdominal VAC therapy should be considered in patients with severe peritonitis.
