Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome in pediatrics. A review
Farah Chedly Thabet1, Janeth Chiaka Ejike2
1Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are serious conditions in critically ill children, often under-diagnosed. Early recognition and management of IAH and ACS are vital for improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Critical Care
Background:
- Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
- These conditions are well-documented in adult critically ill patients.
- Pediatric IAH and ACS are under-recognized by healthcare providers despite similar prognostic impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To consolidate pediatric intensivists' understanding of IAH and ACS pathophysiology, definition, incidence, monitoring, and management.
- To highlight pediatric-specific characteristics of IAH and ACS.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of the medical literature.
- Systematic search of PubMed for English-language articles published between January 1990 and August 2016.
- Keywords included "intra-abdominal hypertension and child/pediatrics" and "abdominal compartment syndrome and child/pediatrics".
Main Results:
- IAH incidence in children is reported at 13%, while ACS incidence is 0.6% to 10%.
- IAH and ACS contribute to pathophysiological disturbances, increased morbidity, and mortality in critically ill children.
- Despite similar prognostic impact to adults, these conditions remain under-diagnosed in pediatric populations.
Conclusions:
- IAH and ACS are frequently encountered in critically ill children, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.
- Timely recognition, prevention, and management are crucial for improving outcomes.
- Enhanced awareness and diagnostic capabilities are needed for pediatric IAH and ACS.
Purpose:
To consolidate pediatric intensivists' understanding of the pathophysiology, definition, incidence, monitoring, and management of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS); and to highlight the characteristics related to the pediatric population.
Methods:
This is a narrative review article that utilized a systematic search of the medical literature published in the English language between January 1990 and august 2016. Studies were identified by conducting a comprehensive search of Pub Med databases. Search terms included "intra-abdominal hypertension and child", "intra-abdominal hypertension and pediatrics", "abdominal compartment syndrome and child", and "abdominal compartment syndrome and pediatrics".
Results:
Intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS are associated with a number of pathophysiological disturbances and increased morbidity and mortality. These conditions have been well described in critically ill adults. In children, the IAH and the ACS have a reported incidence of 13% and 0.6 to 10% respectively; they carry similar prognostic impact but are still under-diagnosed and under-recognized by pediatric health care providers.
Conclusions:
Intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS are conditions that are regularly encountered in critically ill children. They are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Early recognition, prevention and timely management of this critical condition are necessary to improve its outcome.
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