Figure 1: The vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction technique.

1. Bowel
2. Visceral protective layer
3. Abdominal wall
4. Abdominal wall fascia
5. Polypropylene mesh, consisting of two mesh halves, sutured to the fascia laterally and to each other in the midline
6. Two pieces of polyurethane foam placed on top of the mesh and subcutaneously between the wound edges
7. Tubing set with an interface pad attached to an opening in the self-adhesive
drapes and connected to the vacuum source.

Reprinted with permission from Acosta S, et al. Multicentre prospective study of fascial closure rate after open abdomen with vacuum and mesh-mediated fascial
traction. Br J Surg 2011;98:735–43. Copyright 2016 John Wiley & Sons.5