UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: abdominal compartment syndrome, decompressive laparotomy, bladder pressure (PubMed Search)

Posted: 10/8/2007 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD (Updated: 5/24/2025)
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[RESENT - STILL FIXING CODE - THESE TEST EMAILS SHOULD CEASE SHORTLY... SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE]

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is increasingly identified in the critically ill medical patient population
ACS is defined as a sustained intra-abdominal pressure > 20 mmHg associated with new organ dysfunction
Primary organs adversely affected by ACS include cardiac, pulmonary, GI, and renal
To date, associated mortality rates have ranged from 27% to 50%
Risk factors for ACS include:
- massive fluid resuscitation ( >10 L crystalloid in 24 hours)
- massive transfusion ( > 10 U PRBCs in 24 hours)
- severe sepsis or septic shock from any cause
- mechanical ventilation
- PEEP > 10 cm H20
Intravesicular (bladder) pressures are currently the standard monitoring modality
Decompressive laparotomy is the current standard for management of ACS