Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Dec 2019)
Abdominal Compartment Syndrome: Improving Outcomes With A Multidisciplinary Approach – A Narrative Review
Abstract
Martin Padar,1,2 Annika Reintam Blaser,2,3 Peep Talving,4,5 Edgar Lipping,6 Joel Starkopf1,2 1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia; 2Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; 3Department of Intensive Care, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Lucerne, Switzerland; 4Department of Surgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; 5Management Board, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, Estonia; 6Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, EstoniaCorrespondence: Annika Reintam BlaserDepartment Of Intensive Care, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Spitalstrasse, Lucerne 6000, SwitzerlandTel +41 79 514 21 21Email [email protected]: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) refers to a severe increase in intra-abdominal pressure associated with single or multiorgan failure. ACS with specific pathophysiological processes and detrimental outcomes may occur in a variety of clinical conditions. Patients with ACS are predominantly managed in critical care settings, however, a wide range of multidisciplinary interventions are frequently required from medical, surgical, radiological and nursing specialties. The medical management, aiming to prevent the progression of intra-abdominal hypertension to ACS, is extensively reviewed. Timing and techniques of surgical decompression techniques, as well as management of open abdomen, are outlined. In summary, the current narrative review provides data on history, definitions, epidemiology and pathophysiology of the syndrome and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the management of ACS in adults.Keywords: intra-abdominal hypertension, abdominal compartment syndrome, abdominal decompression, decompressive laparotomy, damage control surgery, open abdomen
