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World J Gastrointest Surg. Dec 27, 2013; 5(12): 314-320
Published online Dec 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i12.314
“Acute postoperative open abdominal wall”: Nosological concept and treatment implications
Manuel López-Cano, José A Pereira, Manuel Armengol-Carrasco
Manuel López-Cano, Manuel Armengol-Carrasco, Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebrón, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
José A Pereira, Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
José A Pereira, Department of Health and Experimental Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Author contributions: López-Cano M was the principal investigator, designed the concept, wrote the paper, prepared the final draft and was responsible for editorial decisions including the selection of the journal; Pereira JA participated in the search and review of the literature, reviewed the manuscript and approved the final draft; Armengol-Carrasco M reviewed the manuscript and approved the final draft.
Correspondence to: Manuel López-Cano, MD, PhD, Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. mlpezcano@gmail.com
Telephone: +34-93-2746000 Fax: +34-93-2746224
Received: July 3, 2013
Revised: August 12, 2013
Accepted: October 16, 2013
Published online: December 27, 2013
Processing time: 176 Days and 4.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Burst abdomen and open abdomen are clinical conditions apparently disconnected. In order to assess the management of these disorders in a more comprehensive and integral fashion, the concept of “acute postoperative open abdominal wall” (acute POAW) is presented. The understanding of the acute POAW as a single clinical process allows stratification and collection of data in different patient subsets, favoring a better knowledge of conditions involved in the surgical reconstruction of the abdominal wall.