Abdominal compartment syndrome resulting from intra-abdominal hypertension can be prevented or treated with the formation of a laparostomy. In the majority of cases this is followed by delayed abdominal wall reconstruction involving the use of prosthetic materials and split-skin grafts. The authors present a case study involving a patient who underwent repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and required a laparostomy to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome. He also had significant perioperative morbidity and poor nutritional status. Despite this, satisfactory wound healing was achieved without the need for split-skin grafting, thus avoiding further surgery and its associated complications.