Objective To investigate the clinical value of open abdomen therapy in non⁃traumatic critically patients.

Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 23 non‑traumatic critically patients who underwent open abdomen therapy in 5 hospitals in China from July 2015 to July 2024 were collected. There were 17 males and 6 females, aged 70(range, 24-84)years. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA, and pairwise comparison within groups was conducted using the least significant difference method. The Boruta algorithm was applied for analyzing variables related to survival outcomes.

Results (1) Treatment of patients undergoing open abdomen therapy. ① The intra‑abdominal pressure, lactate, heart rate, central venous pressure, mean arterial pressure, sequential organ failure assessment score of 23 patients from preoperation to postoperative day 3 were changed from (19.7±5.4)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (6.1±1.9)mmol/L, (120±14)beats/minutes, (13.1±4.3)cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O=0.098 kPa), (58.8±6.8)mmHg, 13.2±1.8 to (10.6±1.3)mmHg, (2.3±0.6)mmol/L, (95±10)beats/minutes, (8.8±2.0)cmH₂O, (75.2±8.5)mmHg, 10.1±1.6, respectively, showing significant differences in the time effect of changes in the above indicators (F_time=46.40, 29.19, 24.91, 11.84, 27.81, 11.71, P<0.05). ② The oxygenation index, total intake, total output of 23 patients from preoperation to postoperative day 3 were changed from (255.0±54.2)mmHg, (5388±1562)mL, (2 520±630)mL to (291.7±25.0)mmHg, (2 886±866)mL, (3 221±923)mL, respectively, showing significant differences in the time effect of changes in the above indicators (F_time=7.61, 13.83, 2.97, P<0.05). ③The daily caloric intake, daily protein supplementation of 23 patients from preoperation to postoperative day 3 were changed from (465±116)kcal, (18±5)g to (1 628±472)kcal, (60±18)g, respectively, showing significant differences in the time effect of changes in the above indicators (F_time=40.31, 41.23, P<0.05). (2) Patients outcomes after open abdomen therapy. Of 23 patients, 18 cases survived and 5 cases died. The duration of intensive care unit stay and duration of hospital stay of 23 patients were 26(range, 5-82)days and 40(range, 5-98)days. Twelve of 23 patients received renal replacement therapy for 12 (range, 5-32)days. Time of pain and sedation management, mechanical ventilation, antimicrobial therapy, vasopressor therapy of 23 patients were 13(range, 5-74)days, 12(range, 5-74)days,20(range, 5-50)days, 6(range, 2-35)days. (3) Analysis of variables related to survival outcomes for patients after open abdomen therapy. Results of Boruta analysis showed that postoperative high‑output enteric fistula, postoperative bile fistula, postoperative intra‑abdominal hemorrhage, postoperative enteric air fistula, and preoperative mean arterial pressure were significantly associated with survival outcomes.

Conclusions Open abdomen therapy is effective in the treatment of non-traumatic critically patients. Postoperative high‑output enteric fistula, postoperative bile fistula, postoperative intra‑abdominal hemorrhage, postoperative enteric air fistula, and preoperative mean arterial pressure reduction are significantly associated with survival outcomes.