Abdominal compartment syndrome: a concise clinical review
1Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Critical Care Medicine
|April 2, 2008
Summary
Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious condition in critically ill patients. Early recognition and management, including routine intra-abdominal pressure measurement in high-risk individuals, are crucial for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Surgical Critical Care
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is increasingly recognized in critically ill patients.
- Elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) can lead to progressive organ dysfunction.
- ACS is a significant clinical syndrome with widespread implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a current, clinically focused review on the diagnosis and management of ACS.
- To emphasize the importance of ACS in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting.
- To highlight evidence-based strategies for managing elevated IAP and ACS.
Main Methods:
- Literature review using PubMed, focusing on articles published after 2000.
- Utilized "related articles" search strategies in PubMed.
- Incorporated information from the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) website.
Main Results:
- The detrimental effects of elevated IAP and ACS are well-established in surgical and medical ICUs.
- Recent consensus conferences have improved the definition and awareness of ACS.
- Routine IAP measurement is recommended for high-risk ICU patients.
Conclusions:
- Evidence-based interventions can prevent or treat elevated IAP and ACS.
- Nonsurgical measures are effective for lower degrees of intra-abdominal hypertension.
- Surgical decompression is the definitive treatment for established ACS.
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