Background: The morbidity and mortality of various open abdominal techniques remains unclear.

Methods: A retrospective review was made of all trauma or general surgery patients who underwent an open abdominal closure from January 1997 to December 2000, at a large urban acute care hospital. Data are mean ± SD.

Results: From 1997 to 2000, 181 patients (aged 39.8 ± 16.5 years) had an open abdomen for abdominal infection, planned reexploration, abdominal compartment syndrome, inability to reapproximate fascia, or as part of a “damage control” procedure. Twenty-three patients went on to develop an abdominal compartment syndrome. Gastrointestinal fistulas occurred in 26 patients, and 9 patients had a dehiscence. The overall mortality was 44.7%. Of the survivors, 52% went on to fascial closure, requiring 1 to 7 additional abdominal operations.

Conclusions: The morbidity of the open abdomen varies with the particular indication. Gastrointestinal fistulas are the most common acute complication and an abdominal wall hernia, the most common chronic complication.