Author(s)

Marc R. Matthews^1*, Asia N. Quan², Anushi R. Shah³, Carmen I. Tugulan³, Beshoy A. Nashed⁴, Ross F. Goldberg³, Paola G. Pieri³, Luis G. Fernandez⁵, Areta Kowal-Vern⁶, Kevin N. Foster¹

¹The Arizona Burn Center, Department of Surgery, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
²Burn/Trauma Critical Care, Department of Inpatient Pharmacy, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
³Department of Surgery, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
⁴Department of Surgery, Mountain Vista Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
⁵Division of Trauma Surgery/Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgical Critical Care Unit, Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Tyler, TX, USA.
⁶Department of Research, The Arizona Burn Center, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Background: Septic open abdomens occur in trauma, burn and surgery. Currently, multiple concentrations of hypochlorous acid solutions have effectively decreased the microbiotic burden in wounds. We hypothesized that Vashe^®, a neutral hypochlorous acid solution (V-HOCL), would be safe as an intraperitoneal irrigation or washout disinfectant for septic open abdomens utilizing negative pressure wound therapy. Methods: This is a retrospective observational review of patients who required delayed abdominal closures after exploratory laparotomies. Group A (n = 8) had cyclical V-HOCL irrigation to their open abdomens combining Abthera^TM and V.A.C. Dressing System for negative pressure wound therapy with irrigation (NPWT-i) and Group B (n = 9) had intra-abdominal V-HOCL washouts. Results: Fifty percent of both groups had either septic or hemorrhagic shock on admission. Compared to Group B, Group A patients were older (median 50 vs 37 years), and had a median hospitalization of 28 vs 8 days, 4 times as many operations, more acute renal failure and co-morbidities. No statistically significant differences were detected be-tween the two treatment methods with the V-HOCL delivery and removal. Conclusion: There were no episodes of electrolyte imbalance, hypotension, hypertension, anaphylaxis, hemorrhage, visceral injury or systemic toxicity. V-HOCL with/without NPWT-i irrigation was a safe modality and tolerated well in this study.

Abthera^TM, Hypochlorous Acid, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy-Irrigation (NPWT-i), Septic Abdomen, Temporary Abdominal Closure (TAC), V.A.C. VeraFlo^TM, Vashe^®

R. Matthews, M. , N. Quan, A. , R. Shah, A. , I. Tugulan, C. , A. Nashed, B. , F. Goldberg, R. , G. Pieri, P. , G. Fernandez, L. , Kowal-Vern, A. and N. Foster, K. (2018) Hypochlorous Acid for Septic Abdominal Processes Using a Unique Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System: A Pilot Study. Surgical Science, 9, 412-421. doi: 10.4236/ss.2018.911048.