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Abdominal compartment syndrome in children

Jennifer Newcombe1, Mudit Mathur, J Chiaka Ejike

  • 1Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Nursing, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA. jnewcomb@llu.edu

Critical Care Nurse
|December 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Abdominal compartment syndrome, a critical condition with high mortality, requires prompt recognition and intervention. Nurses play a vital role in monitoring intra-abdominal pressure in children to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Surgical Critical Care

Background:

  • Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as sustained intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) >20 mm Hg, potentially leading to organ dysfunction.
  • Untreated ACS carries a mortality rate of 90-100%, emphasizing the need for early detection.

Observation:

  • Nurses are crucial in accurately measuring IAP in pediatric patients and reporting critical changes to physicians.
  • This article reviews risk factors, diagnostic techniques, and monitoring importance for ACS in children.

Findings:

  • The case study highlights an adolescent diagnosed with abdominal compartment syndrome.
  • Accurate IAP measurement and vigilant monitoring are key to identifying intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS.

Implications:

  • Timely identification and management of ACS in pediatric patients can significantly improve outcomes.
  • Enhanced nursing vigilance in IAP monitoring is essential for reducing ACS-related mortality.

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