J Korean Soc Traumatol.  2014 Jun;27(2):29-32.

Retroperitoneal Gauze Packing with Vacuum-Associated Closure for Pelvic Fracture with Hemodynamic Instability

• Kim SJ
• Kim JH

Abstract

Pelvic bone fracture with hemodynamic instability is fatal and the mortality rate can range up to 40%. Despite the big advances in the treatment of massive bleeding and hemorrhagic shock, the mortality associated with hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fractures remains high. The gold standard of treatment for pelvic bone fracture with hemodynamic instability has not yet been determined and is an issue of main discussion among many doctors. Retroperitoneal packing is not yet wide spread in Korea, but is a good modality for managing of massive bleeding from pelvic bone fractures when an angiography suite or an expert surgeon is not available. A vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system can also be applied with retroperitoneal packing in the manner of damage control surgery and open abdomen surgery. We present the case of a 51-year-old male who had a pelvic bone fracture with massive bleeding. We performed retroperitoneal gauze packing with a VAC system for the first time. The postoperative vital signs of patient were immediately stable, the massive bleeding was easily and quickly controlled, and the amount of transfusion of blood components was reduced.

Keyword

Pelvis; Fracture; Retroperitoneal; Packing; Vacuum

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Angiography
Hemodynamics*
Hemorrhage
Humans
Korea
Male
Middle Aged
Mortality
Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy
Pelvic Bones
Pelvis
Shock, Hemorrhagic
Vacuum
Vital Signs