Outcomes
| DCL (n=18) | DEF (n=21) | P value | |
| Primary outcome and components (<30 days) | |||
| MAC or death <30 days | 6 (33%) | 12 (57%) | 0.137 |
| Organ/Space surgical site infection | 5 (28%) | 8 (38%) | 0.496 |
| Enteric suture line failure | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | – |
| Enterocutaneous fistula | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | – |
| Reopened | 2 (11%) | 6 (29%) | 0.429 |
| Bleeding | 0 | 2 | |
| Dehiscence | 0 | 2 | |
| Sepsis | 1 | 2 | |
| Ischemic bowel | 1 | 0 | |
| Fascial dehiscence | 0 (0%) | 4 (20%) | 0.110 |
| MAC | 6 (33%) | 8 (38%) | 0.757 |
| Deaths | 0 (0%) | 7 (33%) | 0.010 |
| Secondary outcomes (<30 days) | |||
| Superficial surgical site infection | 1 (6%) | 4 (19%) | 0.349 |
| Ileus | 6 (33%) | 7 (33%) | 1.000 |
| Pulmonary embolus | 1 (6%) | 1 (5%) | 1.000 |
| Deep vein thrombosis | 0 (0%) | 2 (10%) | 0.490 |
| Sepsis | 9 (50%) | 11 (52%) | 0.882 |
| Acute renal failure | 3 (17%) | 7 (33%) | 0.290 |
| Multiorgan failure | 4 (22%) | 6 (29%) | 0.726 |
| Lengths of stay | |||
| Hospital-free days | 13 (0, 19) | 0 (0, 11) | 0.089 |
| Intensive care unit-free days | 24 (0, 25) | 12 (0, 24) | 0.170 |
| Ventilator-free days | 27 (3, 28) | 22 (0, 27) | 0.230 |
| In-hospital mortality | |||
| Deaths | 1 (6%) | 7 (33%) | 0.049 |
| Cause of death | 1.000 | ||
| MOF/Sepsis | 0 (0%) | 1 (14%) | |
| Stroke | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Traumatic brain injury | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Respiratory failure | 0 (0%) | 1 (14%) | |
| Transition to comfort care | 1 (100%) | 5 (71%) | |
| Time to death, hours | 1247 (–) | 95 (90, 207) | 0.124 |
Continuous data presented as: median (IQR); categorical data presented as: number (%).
DCL, damage control laparotomy; DEF, definitive laparotomy; MAC, major abdominal complications; MOF, multiorgan failure.