[Abdominal compartment syndrome in multiple trauma patients with concomitant abdominal and head lesions --mechanisms...

The acute and persistent increase of the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) above 25 cm H2O represents a pathologic entity called the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). This intra-abdominal high pressure is responsible of dysfunctions in cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems and also dysfunctions in brain and abdomen. In polytrauma patients with combined head and abdominal lesions, increases of IAP are transmitted via thorax and superior venous caval system to brain generating intracranial hypertension, reducing cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) thus worsening neurological status and increasing mortality. A better prognosis for this polytrauma patients is possible only by elucidating the mechanisms which produces the dysfunctions in ACS and by promoting an aggressive therapeutical surgical approach.