A multidisciplinary team from the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), and the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital has validated, in an animal model, a new dynamic traction device, Dynatract®, designed to improve the treatment of “Open Abdomen,” a severe complication that arises after complex surgeries or severe infections. These patients often require long hospital stays, multiple reinterventions, and face a very high risk of ventral hernia and mortality. The goal of the new device is to promote earlier abdominal closure and prevent retraction of the abdominal wall—an issue that current treatments do not fully resolve.
In the study, conducted in 12 animals over 36 hours, researchers evaluated the combination of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), the standard treatment, with the new Dynatract® system, which applies gentle and continuous traction from inside the abdominal wall. The results showed that incorporating this system reduced the distance between fascial edges and significantly decreased the force required for closure: 2.5 N with Dynatract® vs. 7 N with NPWT alone (p = 0.026). These improvements were achieved without interfering with drainage, hindering reinterventions, or causing damage to the aponeurotic edge—one of the main technical challenges in this type of procedure.
A collaborative effort and a clinically promising advance
The project was led by Patricia Zorrilla (IDIVAL) in research, design, coordination, and analysis; Federico Castillo (HUMV) in prototype design and experimental surgery; and the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital in veterinary oversight. It also received support from HUMV surgeons and the IDIVAL innovation team. The study was carried out in a validated porcine model and funded by IDIVAL (DTEC23/01).
If these results are confirmed in humans, Dynatract® could accelerate abdominal closure, reduce complications such as ventral hernia by decreasing fascial tension, simplify wound care and reinterventions thanks to its compatibility with NPWT, and help reduce hospital stays, costs, and possibly the mortality associated with Open Abdomen. To advance this validation, the team is already preparing an initial clinical trial with approximately 14 patients, which will allow assessment of its safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes.
