Abdominal compartment syndrome in trauma patients

Intra-abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are increasingly recognized to be a contributing cause of organ dysfunction and mortality in critically ill patients. The term abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) describes the clinical manifestations of the pathologic elevation of the intra abdominal pressure (IAP). This syndrome is most commonly observed in the setting of severe abdominal trauma. ACS affects mainly the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal and central nervous system. Preventing ACS by the identification of patients at risk and early diagnosis is paramount to its successful management. Because of the frequency of this condition, routine measurement of intra abdominal pressure should be performed in high risk patients in the intensive care unit. Surgical decompression is definitive treatment of fully developed abdominal compartment syndrome, but nonsurgical measures can often effectively affect lesser degrees of IAH and ACS.