OTA-AAST Pelvic Injury Symposium: Abstracts


TITLE: Abdominal compartment syndrome.
AUTHORS: Watson RA; Howdieshell TR
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Augusta, USA.
SOURCE: South Med J 1998 Apr;91(4):326-32
CITATION IDS: PMID: 9563421 UI: 98222885
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a newly appreciated and potentially fatal consequence of increased intra-abdominal pressure. It can be due to either trauma or surgery, as well as numerous medical conditions. Prolonged, unrelieved elevation of intra-abdominal pressure can produce pulmonary compromise, renal impairment, cardiac failure, shock, and death. A high index of suspicion is imperative. Measurement of the intravesical pressure provides a urometric window for detecting and monitoring this condition. CONCLUSIONS: Reopening the abdominal incision (decompressive celiotomy) has proven a life-saving intervention. Use of delayed wound closure (staged celiotomy) may prevent development of this condition in high-risk surgical patients. It is urgent that all physicians, and surgeons in particular, be alerted to this potentially lethal complication.
MAIN MESH HEADINGS: *Abdomen
Compartment Syndromes/*complications
Compartment Syndromes/*therapy
ADDITIONAL MESH HEADINGS: Compartment Syndromes/diagnosis
Fluid Therapy
Human
1998/05
1998/01 02:02
PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
REVIEW, TUTORIAL
LANGUAGES: Eng