Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Debridement and Drainage for Pancreatic Abscess
Published on: March 15, 2024
Abdominal compartment syndrome in severe acute pancreatitis: an indication for a decompressing laparotomy?
Gary Gecelter1, Bashar Fahoum, Syed Gardezi
1Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Brooklyn, N.Y., USA.
Background:
The currently prevailing paradigm calls for non-operative management of severe acute pancreatitis for as long as there is no evidence of infection. Our purpose in presenting this anecdotal experience is to propose that there is a subset of patients who may need a laparotomy in the absence of infection in order to decompress a clinically significant abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), which is associated with the acute pancreatitis.
Methods:
We present our recent experience with three patients suffering from severe acute pancreatitis. The three developed intra-abdominal hypertension (IAHT) and clinical ACS, which necessitated abdominal decompression and a laparostomy. One patient survived.
Conclusions:
The notion that patients with severe acute pancreatitis may develop ACS, which necessitate emergency abdominal decompression, has been ignored by current surgical literature. Only increased awareness to the syndrome of IAHT-ACS in acute pancreatitis and transvesical measurement of intra-abdominal pressure will reveal its prevalence and significance.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Appendicitis
