Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, MYS
  • 2 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, MYS
Cureus, 2023 Nov;15(11):e49302.
PMID: 38957194 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49302

Abstract

The management of the open abdomen follows wound management with temporary abdominal closure prior to definitive closure while concurrently managing patient nutrient and fluid losses. This case report describes the successful use of double-breasted anterior rectus sheath turnover (DART) flap for early open abdomen closure to facilitate oncological management. The patient is a 47-year-old female with uterine smooth muscle neoplasm whose laparotomy wound was complicated with abdominal wound dehiscence and intra-abdominal infection. The abdomen could be closed with no fistula formation, iatrogenic bowel perforations, or overlying skin necrosis, and a follow-up showed no hernia occurrence. In conclusion, the DART flap provides a simple and autologous option for early tension-free midline closure of the open abdomen with acceptable intra- and postoperative complications.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.