2 Chandra RK, ed. Nutrition, immunity and illness in the elderly. New York: Pergamon Press, 1985:1-100. 3 Rivlin RS, Young EA, eds. Symposium on evidence relating selected vitamins and minerals to health and disease in the elderly population in the United States.

The management of patients with an open abdomen is challenging. Control of intra-abdominal fluid secretion, facilitation of abdominal exploration and preservation of fascia for abdominal wall closure can test even the most experienced surgeon. Over the years various techniques have been tried to minimise complications and expedite closure with VAC® therapy (KCI Medical, Witney, Oxford UK) being the newest. This article provides an overview of the techniques available for the management of the open abdomen from towel clips to VAC®.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, affecting both sexes, was present in five of 27 puppies from three father‐daughter matings. A purebred Golden Retriever was the common sire. The defect occurred in the left dorsolateral portion of the diaphragm, suggesting failure of closure of the left pleuroperitoneal canal during embryonic development. These findings, and a previous report of a similar defect in neonatal puppies, are consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance of canine diaphragmatic defects.

No abstract