Fasciotens to Treat an Open Abdomen - a Prospective Cohort Study (Fasciotens)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04033614
• Recruitment Status: Recruiting
• First Posted: July 26, 2019
• Last Update Posted: April 19, 2023
• Sponsor: RWTH Aachen University
• Collaborator: Fasciotens GmbH
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Dr. Roman Marius Eickhoff, RWTH Aachen University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The open abdomen can occur as a result of various diseases. After infections of the abdomen, compartment syndromes or traumata, it is essential for survival (1). This condition of the open abdomen lasts from days to months. Within a very short time, the fascia and abdominal wall structures retract in such a way that direct abdominal closure is often impossible. In addition, there is a pronounced intraabdominal oedema, which additionally increases the space required by the abdominal organs. Therefore, it is clinically indispensable to increase the space of the intraabdominal organs in this life-threatening situation. After the laparotomy (opening of the abdomen) has been performed, it is therefore not closed. However, the natural traction on the abdominal wall, in particular on the fascia, the attached musculature as well as skin and subcutis, no longer exists in this situation. As a result, these structures retract over the period of the existing laparostoma.

In the present study, the CE-certified medical device Fasciotens Abdomen will be used to prove the functionality of this device and the user feasibility.

The basic principle of Fasciotens Abdomen is the ventrally directed pulling force on the two fascial edges via an external device with support on the thorax and pelvis. The possibility to apply a traction to the fascia from the moment of opening the abdomen without reducing the intraabdominal space is absolutely new and the rationale of this technique. The objective of this study is to prove the obvious prevention of fascial retraction through the Fasciotens Abdomen device.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Abdominal Compartment Syndrome; Pancreatitis,Acute Necrotizing; Intraabdominal Hypertension; Peritonitis	Device: Fasciotens-Abdomen	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

The open abdomen can occur as a result of various diseases. After infections of the abdomen, compartment syndromes or traumata, it is essential for survival (1). This condition of the open abdomen lasts from days to months. Within a very short time, the fasciae and abdominal wall structures retract in such a way that direct abdominal closure is often impossible. In addition, there is a pronounced intraabdominal oedema, which additionally increases the space required by the abdominal organs. Therefore, it is clinically indispensable to increase the space of the intraabdominal organs in this life-threatening situation. After the laparotomy (opening of the abdomen) has been performed, it is therefore not closed. However, the natural traction on the abdominal wall, in particular on the fascia, the attached musculature as well as skin and subcutis, no longer exists in this situation. As a result, these structures retract over the period of the existing laparostoma.

The current state of the art is the treatment of the open abdomen using low-pressure therapy or other temporary abdominal wall closure. The most common method is pure vacuum dressing on the abdominal wall wound and the abdominal organs (2, 3). However, traction to the edges of the fascia is only possible after the intraabominal increase in volume and pressure has decreased. All previously described methods for temporary abdominal wall closure cannot counteract abdominal wall retraction and can only begin with a pull on the already retracted fascia after normalization of the abdominal volume.

The later abdominal closure then often requires alloplastic materials or results in a defect healing as abdominal wall hernia (4, 5). The temporal extension of the open abdomen is also associated with intestinal adhesions, formation of intestinal fistula and loss of abdominal volume (6-12). Mortality of the open abdomen is 12-40%, with septic genesis associated with higher mortality (1). In addition, reocclusion should be sought at an early stage. Trauma patients with a re-closure within 48 hours show a more favourable course of disease, a lower complication rate and lower mortality (13-15). The retraction of the abdominal wall and the later often impossible abdominal closure are the main problems in the treatment of these seriously ill patients. This problem, which has not yet been solved, is the reason for the development of this new technique.

In the present study, the CE-certified medical device Fasciotens Abdomen will be used to prove the functionality of this device and the user feasibilty.

The basic principle of Fasciotens Abdomen is the ventrally directed pulling force on the two fascial edges via an external device with support on the thorax and pelvis. A commercially available resorbable surgical mesh is sewn into the fascia margin, which would also have been used without the Fasciotens system. Commercial surgical sutures attached to this net are then attached to a height-adjustable suspension, which is connected to an external support on the thorax and pelvis. This ensures continuous traction to the two fascial edges. This counteracts the natural muscle pull of the abdominal muscles and thus the retraction of the abdominal wall to both sides laterally. At the same time the abdomen is still open preventing necrosis of the abdominal organs. The remaining wound surface can then be treated with conventional dressing material.

The possibility to apply a traction to the fascia from the moment of opening the abdomen without reducing the intraabdominal space is absolutely new and the rationale of this technique. The objective of this study is to prove the obvious prevention of fascial retraction through the Fasciotens Abdomen device.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 15 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Fasciotens to Treat an Open Abdomen - a Prospective Cohort Study
• Actual Study Start Date: August 5, 2019
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: May 2026
• Estimated Study Completion Date: August 2026

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Experimental: Patients with Laparostoma; Patients needing a laparostoma will be treated with the fasciotens abdomen device. The distance between the fasciae will be measured frequently using a ruler. 12 months after the treatment an ultrasound measurement will be performed to assess hernia formation

Device: Fasciotens-Abdomen; The basic principle of Fasciotens Abdomen is the ventrally directed pulling force on the two fascial edges via an external device with support on the thorax and pelvis. A commercially available resorbable surgical mesh is sewn into the fascia margin. Commercial surgical sutures attached to this net are then attached to a height-adjustable suspension, which is connected to an external support on the thorax and pelvis. This ensures continuous traction to the two fascial edges. The remaining wound surface can then be treated with conventional dressing material.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Closure rate of the abdominal wall fascia [ Time Frame: Up to 24 weeks ]
   The primary endpoint of the study is the closure rate of the fascia.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Laparostoma with a resorbable net and planned or necessary "second look" operation.
• Age of majority
• Signed informed consent form or in the case of patients unable to give consent, signature from the authorised representative/legal carevier or consultant.

Exclusion Criteria for the period of use of the Fasciotens Abdomen device:

• Pregnancy or breast-feeding at the time of inclusion into the study
• A Moribund patient with a life expectancy of less than 24 hours despite laparostomy
• Unstable thorax or known severe skeletal instability which impaires the use of the fasciotens abdomen device.
• Open wounds or infections at the potential contact points of the Fasciotens abdomen device
• Known cardiac insufficiency with ejection fraction less than 35%
• Patients with lung failure (ARDS) and the need for abdominal positioning within the next 24h

Exclusion criteria for the entire duration of the study:

• Persons who are accommodated in a mental hospital or an insititution on official or judicial instruction
• Persons who are dependent on or have an employment relationship with the principal investigator
• Other conditions which, at the judgement of the investigator, militate against the use of the investigational product
• Minority

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Roman Marius Eickhoff, Dr. med.; +49 241 80 89500; reickhoff@ukaachen.de

Locations

Germany

Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie; Recruiting

Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, 52074

Contact: Roman Eickhoff, Dr. med.

Sponsors and Collaborators

RWTH Aachen University

Fasciotens GmbH

More Information

Publications:

Bruhin A, Ferreira F, Chariker M, Smith J, Runkel N. Systematic review and evidence based recommendations for the use of negative pressure wound therapy in the open abdomen. Int J Surg. 2014 Oct;12(10):1105-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.08.396. Epub 2014 Aug 28.

Quyn AJ, Johnston C, Hall D, Chambers A, Arapova N, Ogston S, Amin AI. The open abdomen and temporary abdominal closure systems--historical evolution and systematic review. Colorectal Dis. 2012 Aug;14(8):e429-38. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2012.03045.x.

Roberts DJ, Zygun DA, Grendar J, Ball CG, Robertson HL, Ouellet JF, Cheatham ML, Kirkpatrick AW. Negative-pressure wound therapy for critically ill adults with open abdominal wounds: a systematic review. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 Sep;73(3):629-39. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31825c130e.

Carlson GL, Patrick H, Amin AI, McPherson G, MacLennan G, Afolabi E, Mowatt G, Campbell B. Management of the open abdomen: a national study of clinical outcome and safety of negative pressure wound therapy. Ann Surg. 2013 Jun;257(6):1154-9. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31828b8bc8.

Cheatham ML, Demetriades D, Fabian TC, Kaplan MJ, Miles WS, Schreiber MA, Holcomb JB, Bochicchio G, Sarani B, Rotondo MF. Prospective study examining clinical outcomes associated with a negative pressure wound therapy system and Barker's vacuum packing technique. World J Surg. 2013 Sep;37(9):2018-30. doi: 10.1007/s00268-013-2080-z.

Cheatham ML, Safcsak K. Is the evolving management of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome improving survival? Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):402-7. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0b013e3181b9e9b1.

Miller RS, Morris JA Jr, Diaz JJ Jr, Herring MB, May AK. Complications after 344 damage-control open celiotomies. J Trauma. 2005 Dec;59(6):1365-71; discussion 1371-4. doi: 10.1097/01.ta.0000196004.49422.af.

Vidal MG, Ruiz Weisser J, Gonzalez F, Toro MA, Loudet C, Balasini C, Canales H, Reina R, Estenssoro E. Incidence and clinical effects of intra-abdominal hypertension in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2008 Jun;36(6):1823-31. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31817c7a4d.

Raeburn CD, Moore EE, Biffl WL, Johnson JL, Meldrum DR, Offner PJ, Franciose RJ, Burch JM. The abdominal compartment syndrome is a morbid complication of postinjury damage control surgery. Am J Surg. 2001 Dec;182(6):542-6. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(01)00821-2.

Barker DE, Kaufman HJ, Smith LA, Ciraulo DL, Richart CL, Burns RP. Vacuum pack technique of temporary abdominal closure: a 7-year experience with 112 patients. J Trauma. 2000 Feb;48(2):201-6; discussion 206-7. doi: 10.1097/00005373-200002000-00001.

Bee TK, Croce MA, Magnotti LJ, Zarzaur BL, Maish GO 3rd, Minard G, Schroeppel TJ, Fabian TC. Temporary abdominal closure techniques: a prospective randomized trial comparing polyglactin 910 mesh and vacuum-assisted closure. J Trauma. 2008 Aug;65(2):337-42; discussion 342-4. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31817fa451.

De Waele JJ, Leppaniemi AK. Temporary abdominal closure techniques. Am Surg. 2011 Jul;77 Suppl 1:S46-50.

Hatch QM, Osterhout LM, Podbielski J, Kozar RA, Wade CE, Holcomb JB, Cotton BA. Impact of closure at the first take back: complication burden and potential overutilization of damage control laparotomy. J Trauma. 2011 Dec;71(6):1503-11. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31823cd78d.

Burlew CC, Moore EE, Biffl WL, Bensard DD, Johnson JL, Barnett CC. One hundred percent fascial approximation can be achieved in the postinjury open abdomen with a sequential closure protocol. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 Jan;72(1):235-41. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318236b319.

Dubose JJ, Scalea TM, Holcomb JB, Shrestha B, Okoye O, Inaba K, Bee TK, Fabian TC, Whelan J, Ivatury RR; AAST Open Abdomen Study Group. Open abdominal management after damage-control laparotomy for trauma: a prospective observational American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Jan;74(1):113-20; discussion 1120-2. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31827891ce. Erratum In: J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014 Mar;76(3):902. Erriksson, Evert [corrected to Eriksson, Evert].

Lambertz A, Mihatsch C, Roth A, Kalverkamp S, Eickhoff R, Neumann UP, Klink CD, Junge K. Fascial closure after open abdomen: initial indication and early revisions are decisive factors--a retrospective cohort study. Int J Surg. 2015 Jan;13:12-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.11.025. Epub 2014 Nov 25.

• Responsible Party: Dr. Roman Marius Eickhoff, Specialist in surgery, RWTH Aachen University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04033614
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18-019
• First Posted: July 26, 2019
• Last Update Posted: April 19, 2023
• Last Verified: April 2023

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Dr. Roman Marius Eickhoff, RWTH Aachen University:

Laparotomy, open abdomen, fascia, retraction, intraabdominal oedema

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Peritonitis; Compartment Syndromes; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension; Pancreatitis; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pancreatic Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Intraabdominal Infections; Infections; Peritoneal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases