Analysis of intra-abdominal hypertension in severe burned patients: the Vall d'Hebron experience

Although severely burned patients are at a high risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH: IAP>12 mmHg) and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) (IAP ≥ 20 mmHg), few data about its incidence and prevalence is available. Our aim was to determine the incidence and prevalence of IAH and ACS in patients with severe burns in our geographical setting. A pilot prospective, observational study was performed at the Burns Unit of the Plastic Surgery Department in Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona), during a 12-month period. All patients with age ≥ 18 years old and burns >20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) were considered for inclusion. Patients who did not require urinary catheterization via the urethra were excluded. All patients included were followed during the first five days from their admission. Results are expressed as median (interquartile range) or frequency (percentage). During the study period, 303 patients were admitted to the Burns Unit. Twenty-five patients were included in the study (21 [84%] male, 4 [16%] female; age 42 [30-69 years]; TBSA burned 33 [25-58]%; all patients presented deep second-degree and/or third-degree burns). Eighteen (72%) patients met criteria for IAH, but only one (4%) developed ACS. The incidence of IAH and ACS was 0.56 and 0.04 cases/patient-day, respectively. Patients with IAH presented higher number of organs failure (2 [0-2.2] vs 0 [0-0]; p = 0.03). Patients with >20% TBSA burned presented a very high prevalence of IAH. Development of organ failure occurred even at moderately increased values of IAP. In this scenario, monitoring of IAP is the first step for establishing the importance of IAH/ACS in this patient population.