[Clinical characteristics of patients with open abdomen at ICU. A retrospective analysis].

Background: The open abdomen is a surgical management strategy in patients with increased intra-abdominal pressure or when the abdominal wall cannot be closed.

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and clinical outcome of a group of surgical patients with open abdomen who have been admitted to an ICU.

Material And Mehotds: Retrospective study in an ICU of a public hospital of reference with subjects admitted with open abdomen. The clinical and demographic characteristics were recorded upon admission to the ICU and were associated with the risk of death in the ICU.

Results: We included 30 patients, with mean of age 51.97 ± 17.77 years. The main reason for admission to the ICU was abdominal sepsis. The severity of the disease by APACHE II was median of 14 points and a SOFA with median of 4.5 points. The lethality in ICU was 46.7%.

Conclusion: The mortality of patients with open abdomen in ICU is high. Surviving subjects have higher number of surgical reoperations and a greater risk of whole cutaneous fistulas.