Abdominal sepsis remains the second most common source of sepsis, a life-threatening condition that became a global health priority in the medical field research. Open abdomen is part of the damage control surgery, a life-saving strategy in a well-selected group of surgical patients with severe abdominal sepsis and intra-abdominal hypertension. Definitions and recommendations in the management of abdominal sepsis and open abdomen have gradually evolved, as a reflection of the progress of both the comprehension of physiopathological mechanisms involved in sepsis and the technology of different temporary abdominal closure systems. The aim of this paper is to make an up-to-date literature narrative review of the definitions and current practice guidelines in abdominal sepsis, with illustration of clinical experience in the management of open abdomen wounds. In the past decades, progress has been made in the management of abdominal sepsis, with greatly ameliorated survival rates. Rapid diagnosis, extensive comprehension of the physiopathological mechanisms of sepsis, adapted fluid resuscitation, antimicrobial therapy and damage-control surgery, orchestrated by a multy-disciplinary team, play an equally important role in the prognosis of a patient.
Keywords: abdominalsepsis; damagecontrolsurgery; openabdomen.
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