ABDOMINAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME

Purpose: Two cases of abdominal compartment syndrome are described and the pathophysiology associated with it is reviewed. Clinical Features : The first patient was a 46-yr-old man who sustained extensive blunt abdominal injuries following a fall, The second was a 54-yr-old man in volved in a motor vehicle accident with blunt abdominal trauma, In bot h cases, the patients developed an extremely tense abdomen, increasing peak inspiratory pressures, hypercarbia and oliguria. Both demonstrat ed improvement in cardiac performance and ventilatory variables follow ing an emergency decompressive celiotomy, Conclusion: Abdominal compar tment syndrome results in impairment of organ function secondary to in creased intraabdominal pressure. These patients require emergency deco mpressive celiotomy to relieve the symptoms. However, the incidence of intractable asystole and hypotension during this procedure is highlan d vigilance must be maintained during the release of the increased int raabdominal pressure.