KCI Expands ABTHERA Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy in Japan

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that medical technology company KCI recently announced it will expand the market for its open abdomen negative pressure therapy, ABTHERA, in Japan.

KCI is one of the leading companies in the field of wound care, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, USA, with nearly 5,000 employees worldwide. The company focuses on researching, designing, manufacturing, and selling high-tech innovative therapies and products for wound care, tissue regeneration, and treatment support systems, providing innovative wound care solutions to more than 90 countries globally.

In the clinical management of complex abdominal conditions, leaving the abdominal cavity open is a commonly accepted medical practice; however, prolonged open abdomen duration can lead to fluid loss, infection, loss of abdominal domain, organ dysfunction, and even death.

ABTHERA™ Therapy plays a significant role in the management of intra-abdominal conditions such as severe intra-abdominal hemorrhage and severe peritonitis. ABTHERA™ Therapy is indicated for temporary bridging when primary closure of the abdominal wall is not feasible and repeated abdominal access is required. It is suitable for open abdominal wounds with exposed viscera, including but not limited to Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS). The primary functions of ABTHERA™ Therapy include: removal of excess fluid and reduction of edema; provision of medial tension to help mitigate fascial retraction and abdominal wall dysfunction; protection of intra-abdominal organs from the external environment; and facilitation of rapid re-exploration without the need for repeated suture placement.

Compared with the traditional Barker vacuum-pack technique (BVPT), the ABTHERA therapy is simpler to operate, more cost-effective, and yields better therapeutic outcomes.

As early as the 2011 World Congress of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WCACS), KCI presented a detailed comparison of two treatment modalities. This comparative study enrolled 280 patients requiring temporary abdominal closure (TAC). The study population was divided into two groups, receiving continuous therapy with either the ABThera system or the BVPT technique for 48 hours. The final results showed that the primary fascial closure rate (within 30 days) was 76% in patients treated with ABThera, compared to only 57% in those treated with BVPT. Furthermore, within the same study cohort, the all-cause mortality rate was 15% among patients receiving ABThera therapy, whereas it reached as high as 34% in those receiving BVPT therapy.

“An open abdomen is a complex and often life-threatening condition,” said Dr. Demetrios Demetriades, Professor of Surgery at Keck USC Medical School. “The adoption of the ABThera™ therapy has been highly beneficial for both surgeons managing patients with an open abdomen and patients undergoing temporary abdominal closure.”

It is reported that KCI will conduct educational seminars on the ABTHERA therapy at universities such as the University of Tokyo, promoting this technology to clinical practitioners in Japan. R. Andrew Eckert, President and Chief Executive Officer of KCI, stated, “As one of the world’s largest healthcare markets, Japan presents an opportunity for us to address the gap in local wound care through the launch of the ABTHERA therapy.”

(Compiled by: Feng Yutong)