Abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS) is a clinical entity characterised by increased intraabdominal pressure leading to multiple organ failure, fatal if left untreated. The treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome is surgical decompression with a temporary abdominal wall substitute. To avoid the development of abdominal compartment syndrome, temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should be considered after celiotomy for trauma. A new method for TAC was introduced at Ullevaal University Hospital in 2002, the "vac pac".
Method: The "vac pac" technique is described and the patients treated with "vac pac" during the first year after introduction are presented.
Results: Five patients were treated using the "vac pac". One patient had acute pancreatitis and developed abdominal compartment syndrome. The other patients were severely injured and the indication for TAC was abdominal compartment syndrome in one patient, intestinal oedema in another, and damage control surgery with packing in two patients. Delayed primary closure was achieved within five days in all our patients. There were no fatalities and no complications related to the use of "vac pac" were registered.
Conclusion: The "vac pac" technique seems to be a good method for TAC.