experimental models on abdominal compartment syndrome

Abstract Aims: Intra-Abdominal Hypertension (IAH) and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) are life threatening conditions in critically ill patients. During the last decades a lot of experimental animal models had been evolved to explain the pathomechanism, the triggering conditions, the diagnostic methods and the ideal treatment strategy of IAH/ACS. The aim of this review is to compare animal models which have relevance in clinical investigations and to give an interpretation for the optimal model of IAH/ACS investigations. Methods: Review of literature. Results: Small animal models (mouse, rat, rabbit) are cost-effective, easily applicable, with less infrastructural needs. They can be successfully applied for pathophysiological, biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical investigations. Large animal models (dog, sheep, pig) are expensive and require quite a lot of infrastructure, however they can represent renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal functions. They are ideal to investigate anatomical changes, surgical and intensive care techniques. Conclusions: Pig has very close anatomy and physiology to human. This similarity gives an excellent opportunity for modelling different surgical and emergency conditions and also allows to measure cardiovascular, respiratory and urinary parameters.