[Comment to: complex vacuum therapy of an abdominal abscess from gastric perforation. Case report of innovative operative endoscopic management].

BACKGROUND The simultaneous use of abdominal and endoscopic vacuum therapy in a case of an abdominal abscess caused by gastric perforation is demonstrated and innovative operative endoscopic management is described. CASE REPORT A computed tomography scan performed on a 67-year-old female patient showed a large abscess of the upper abdominal cavity where laparoscopic fundoplication had been performed 6 months previously. Endoscopy showed a transmural perforation of the dorsal wall of the stomach. The gastric perforation was closed and drained using intracavitary endoscopic vacuum therapy. Open pore polyurethane foam drainage was inserted through the defect into the extraluminal cavity for 3 days. A second period of therapy followed using intraluminal therapy with total drainage of the stomach, simultaneous enteral nutrition via a jejunal tube and a vacuum pressure of - 125 mmHg was applied with an electronic vacuum device. The abdominal abscess was drained via laparotomy and intra-abdominal vacuum therapy was performed with an open pore double-layered film using a vacuum pressure of - 75 mmHg. The perforation defect was not treated by operative means. Abdominal vacuum therapy ended 3 days postoperatively and the abdominal wall was closed by suture. Endoscopic vacuum therapy of the gastric perforation was terminated after 7 days and primary wound healing could then be achieved. CONCLUSION Use of endoscopic and abdominal vacuum therapy as well as new open pore material is an innovative option for operative management.