INTRAABDOMINAL HYPERTENSION AND THE ABDOMINAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME

increased intra-abdominal pressure occurs in a variety of clinical sit uations, such as accumulation of ascites, bowel distention from ileus or mechanical obstruction, and reduction into the peritoneal cavity of large, chronic hernia contents that have ''lost their domain.'' This article discusses intra-abdominal pressure monitoring, hypertension, a nd the abdominal compartment syndrome.