Table 4 Site requirements for potential participation in the COOL study

Minimal system resources required for site participation in COOL-Lite

 - Designated primary investigator presumably with an academic affiliation willing to take overall medical/ethical/academic responsibility for the conduct of the study

- Ethical approval—by the appropriate local ethics committee with oversight of the participating institution

 - Site investigators/willing local surgeons with the responsibility of caring for those with SIAS and thus the ability to recruit patients

 - Internet access—either within or closely available to the operating theater to allow online randomization of patients during laparotomy

 - Negative peritoneal pressure therapy (NPPT) dressing availability for those randomized to OPEN

 - Familiarity with the application of the NPPT device or willingness to undergo training and in service on the safe utilization of the NPPT device

 - Study personnel/investigator capable to record and compile case record and submit to the Central Study Registry

Full system resources required for site participation in COOL-Max

 - Above and also

 - Study personnel capable of obtaining blood/IPF samples

 - Laboratory capability to store frozen blood/IPF fluid till study completion and send to Calgary for analysis

Full system resources required for site participation in COOL-Mic

 - Medical microbiology laboratory capable of basic microbiology studies

 - Medical records and information processing capable of providing microbiology results for study analysis

Full system resources required for site participation in COOL-Cells

 - Geographic proximity to Calgary

 - Ability to collect fresh peritoneal fluid and to rapidly ship to the Snyder laboratory for time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Full system resources required for site participation in COOL-Costs

 - Ability to provide administrative and microcosting data

 - Ability to administrator SF-36 and Euroqol EQ-5D-5L at 90 days and 1 year post enrollment in all survivors