Can vacuum-assisted closure and instillation therapy (VAC-InstillA® therapy) play a role in the treatment of the infected open abdomen?

Severe superimposed infection during open abdomen treatment with development of intra-abdominal sepsis is a challenging complication associated with high mortality rates. We report our experience with VAC-Instill(A (R)) therapy (KCI, San Antonio, USA) used for treatment of an infected open abdomen following pancreatic surgery. A literature search revealed no analogous case reports using VAC-Instill(A (R)) therapy for treatment of an infected laparostomy. The encouraging result of the case presented seems to indicate that VAC-Instill(A (R)) therapy could be used as adjunctive treatment in the management of the infected open abdomen when traditional therapy fails to control the infection.