Elevated pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated as markers for multi-system organ failure (MOF) and death in trauma patients. Abdominal surgery can raise the levels of these cytokines and may lead to elevated plasma levels of these inflammatory cytokines possibly leading to worsening patient prognosis. Patients in whom open abdominal closure is required are often the sickest of trauma patients. Two different temporary abdominal closure techniques are generally used at the Presley Memorial Trauma Center, one using the blue towel: vacuum pack technique and one using the commercially available ABThera vacuum device from Kinetic Concepts, Inc (KCI). This study is being conducted to determine if the ABThera temporary closure technique removes a greater amount of cytokines from the abdominal cavity possibly lessening the amount of systemic or plasma cytokines and thus decreasing the incidence of MOF and death in this very ill population of patients. Additionally, this study is being conducted to determine if the white blood cell count may be lower in patients with the least cytokine values and to also investigate protein loss in these patients. The depletion of body stores of protein due to an open abdomen has great nutritional and, therefore, healing implications.

Enrollment will include 40 subjects meeting eligibility criteria into this study. The study population will include 20 patients who were temporarily closed using the ABThera device and 20 who were temporarily closed using the blue towel: vacuum pack technique. Peritoneal fluid and blood will be collected in eligible subjects immediately upon arrival to the ICU following surgery and at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours following placement. Peritoneal fluid will be collected from the drainage system into a Lukens trap. Blood will be collected from an existing intravenous or arterial line. The peritoneal fluid will be centrifuged, separated, and frozen at -80 degrees centigrade for analysis of cytokine/inflammatory markers, protein, and WBC count. The blood specimens will be centrifuged, separated, and frozen for cytokine/inflammatory marker analysis. Chemistry and hematology values completed as standard of care will be collected from the hospital chart along with general demographics, description of injuries, treatment modalities, and outcomes.

The first samples of blood and peritoneal fluid will be obtained immediately on arrival in the ICU when other labs are being drawn as standard of care. These samples will be put aside until consent can be obtained from the legally authorized representative or the subject himself. If the research subject and/or his legally authorized representative decide that the subject should not participate in the study, the sample will be destroyed and no additional study procedures will be obtained. If the legally authorized representative is not available within 12 hours of the initial specimen and the subject is unable to consider participation within 12 hours of the initial specimens, the subject will not be enrolled into the study, and samples obtained immediately on arrival to the ICU will be destroyed.

After all analyses are completed, comparison of the cytokine levels, WBC count, and protein extraction between the two vacuum methods will be completed and correlated to the patients' overall organ function.