Radiologic evaluation of abdominal compartment syndrome: an updated educational review

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Surgical pathology
• Diagnostic imaging

Background:

• Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a severe condition defined by elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) exceeding 20 mmHg, causing organ dysfunction.
• Despite intravesical catheter measurement being the diagnostic standard, ACS is often missed due to nonspecific symptoms and overlap with other critical illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiology, clinical features, and imaging findings of ACS.
• To emphasize the critical role of CT scans in diagnosing ACS in unwell patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on abdominal compartment syndrome.
• Analysis of clinical presentations and diagnostic imaging findings, particularly CT scans.

Main Results:

• ACS is characterized by sustained IAP > 20 mmHg, leading to organ dysfunction.
• Nonspecific clinical presentation contributes to frequent underdiagnosis of ACS.
• CT imaging can provide crucial findings for diagnosing ACS.

Conclusions:

• Early recognition and diagnosis of ACS are vital for patient outcomes.
• Radiologists and clinicians should consider ACS in critically ill patients, especially when reviewing CT scans.
• Integrating clinical data with imaging findings improves ACS diagnosis and management.