SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced today that results of the observational study, “Prospective Study Examining Clinical Outcomes Associated with a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System and Barker’s Vacuum Packing Technique” is published in the September 2013 print edition of the World Journal of Surgery.¹ These results, published online in May 2013, showed that ABThera^™ Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System (ABThera^™ OA NPT) was associated with significantly improved patient outcomes compared to traditional Barker’s vacuum-packing technique (BVPT) in trauma and surgical patients studied.

“Used as part of a comprehensive approach to open abdomen management, ABThera^™ OA NPT was associated with a significantly lower mortality rate, increased abdominal closure rate and improved overall patient outcome,” said Michael Cheatham, MD, Corporate Chairman of Surgery, Orlando Health, and lead author of the study.

In the ABTAC study, 280 trauma and surgical patients who required temporary abdominal closure (TAC) following a damage control laparotomy or treatment of either intra-abdominal hypertension or severe sepsis, were enrolled from 20 sites across the US. Among patients treated with at least 48 hours of consistent TAC therapy (ABThera^™ OA NPT n=111; BVPT n=57), the rate of primary fascial closure within 30 days was 69 percent for the ABThera^™ OA NPT group and 51 percent for the BVPT (p=0.03). In this same patient group, the 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 14 percent for patients treated with ABThera^™ OA NPT and 30 percent for those treated with BVPT (p=0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that patients treated with ABThera™ Therapy were 3.2 times more likely to survive up to 30 days compared to BVPT patients [(95 percent confidence interval); p=0.02] after controlling for age, severity of illness and cumulative fluid administration.

“These dramatic and highly significant results underscore the value of ABThera^™ Therapy in improving the management of patients with an open abdomen, a complex and often life-threatening condition,” said Ron Silverman, MD, chief medical officer, KCI.

The ABThera^™ Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System is indicated for temporary bridging of abdominal wall openings where primary closure is not possible and repeat abdominal entries are necessary. This system is intended for use in open abdominal wounds with exposed viscera including, but not limited to, abdominal compartment syndrome. The intended care setting is a closely monitored area within the acute care hospital, such as the ICU. The abdominal dressing will most often be applied in the operating theater.

For more information about the ABThera^™ Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy System, including important safety information, please visit www.ABThera.com. To access the online version of the article, please click here.

About KCI

KCI is a leading global medical technology company devoted to understanding, developing and commercializing innovative, high-technology transformational healing solutions for customers and patients in more than 65 countries around the world. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI is committed to advancing the science of healing and positively affecting patient care by developing customer-driven innovations to meet the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. Proprietary KCI negative pressure technologies have revolutionized the way in which caregivers treat a wide variety of wound types. The V.A.C.^® Therapy System has been used on more than 7 million wounds worldwide. Additional information about KCI and its products is available at www.KCI1.com.

¹Cheatham ML, Demetriades D, Fabian TC, et al. Study Examining Clinical Outcomes Associated with a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System and Barker’s Vacuum Packing Technique. World Journal of Surgery. 2013 September; 37(9):2018-2030.