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Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

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Penetrating Trauma

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Abstract

The application of damage control surgery (DCS) principles and aggressive fluid resuscitation made it possible to save critically injured penetrating trauma patients. These survivors suffer whole-body ischemia/reperfusion injury (hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation), which is associated with bowel edema, abdominal wall swelling, retroperitoneal swelling, and ascites formation. The abdominal packing and the formal closure of the abdomen together with the increased volume of the abdominal content can cause increased abdominal pressure, which compromises the function of vital organs (kidneys, liver, lung, heart, and intestines). Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS, increased intra-abdominal pressure with organ dysfunction/failure) has emerged as a life-threatening complication among survivors of DCS. Prevention of ACS is a solution, but when it is attempted, the abdominal decompression and use of temporary abdominal closure is required. The liberal use of open abdomen strategy decreases the incidence of ACS and mortality from ACS but creates a new challenge: the management of the open abdomen, which is a condition with significant morbidity and potential mortality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traumatology, John Hunter Hospital and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    Zsolt J. Balogh & Osamu Yoshino

  2. Department of Surgery, Letterkenny General Hospital, Letterkenny, Ireland

    Michael Sugrue

Authors
  1. Zsolt J. Balogh
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  2. Osamu Yoshino
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  3. Michael Sugrue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zsolt J. Balogh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Surgery Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard University Medical School, Boston, USA

    George C. Velmahos

  2. Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Milpark Hospital Academic Trauma Centre and Leratong Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Elias Degiannis

  3. Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Dietrich Doll

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© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Balogh, Z.J., Yoshino, O., Sugrue, M. (2017). Abdominal Compartment Syndrome. In: Velmahos, G., Degiannis, E., Doll, D. (eds) Penetrating Trauma. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49859-0_56

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49859-0_56

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-49857-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-49859-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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