We appreciate the constructive comments on our recent study on vacuum-assisted wound closure with mesh‑mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in open abdomen management (OAM). Dialogue is essential for refining surgical strategies, and we welcome the opportunity to clarify the key points. Our findings demonstrated that VAWCM achieved higher rates of primary fascial closure and lower in-hospital mortality than vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone. We also highlighted the reproducibility of our modified technique, which facilitates broader clinical applications. Although VAWCM is effective, it is not universally indicated. Many OAM cases can achieve closure without VAWCM, and the additional setup time may be disadvantageous when rapid temporary abdominal closure is required, particularly in damage-control surgery. Our institutional review showed that initiating VAWCM within five days significantly improved rectus fascial closure rates (79% vs. 31%). Based on these results, we adopted a standardized protocol for OAM management and collected prospective data. We acknowledge the limitations of our retrospective, single-center design and the potential for some selection bias. Larger multicenter studies are needed to establish standardized criteria for patient selection and timing. Consistent protocols are critical for optimizing the outcomes across institutions.