Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Practice Guideline
. 2019 Aug;106(9):1156-1166.
doi: 10.1002/bjs.11177.

Avoiding, diagnosing and treating well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic surgery

M Gill  1 , L Fligelstone  2 , J Keating  3 , D G Jayne  4 , S Renton  5 , C P Shearman  6 , G L Carlson  7 ; Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland, the British Orthopaedic Association and the British Association of Urological Surgeons
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Avoiding, diagnosing and treating well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic surgery

M Gill et al. Br J Surg. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing prolonged pelvic surgery may develop compartment syndrome of one or both lower limbs in the absence of direct trauma or pre-existing vascular disease (well leg compartment syndrome). This condition may have devastating consequences for postoperative recovery, including loss of life or limb, and irreversible disability.

Methods: These guidelines represent the collaboration of a multidisciplinary group of colorectal, vascular and orthopaedic surgeons, acting on behalf of their specialty associations in the UK and Ireland. A systematic analysis of the available peer-reviewed literature was undertaken to provide an evidence base from which these guidelines were developed.

Results: These guidelines encompass the risk factors (both patient- and procedure-related), diagnosis and management of the condition. Key recommendations for the adoption of perioperative strategies to facilitate prevention and effective treatment of well leg compartment syndrome are presented.

Conclusion: All surgeons who carry out abdominopelvic surgical procedures should be aware of well leg compartment syndrome, and instigate policies within their own institution to reduce the risk of this potentially life-changing complication.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lower limb compartments
Figure 2
Figure 2
Compartment pressure measurement
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. McQueen MM. Acute Compartment Syndrome. Fractures in Adults (7th edn). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, 2010.
    1. Simms MS, Terry TR. Well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic and perineal surgery in the lithotomy position. Postgrad Med J 2005; 81: 534–536. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Halliwill JR, Hewitt SA, Joyner MJ, Warner MA. Effect of various lithotomy positions on lower‐extremity blood pressure. Anesthesiology 1998; 89: 1373–1376. - PubMed
    1. Warner ME, LaMaster LM, Thoeming AK, Marienau ME, Warner MA. Compartment syndrome in surgical patients. Anesthesiology 2001; 94: 705–708. - PubMed
    1. Bauer EC, Koch N, Erichsen CJ, Juettner T, Rein D, Janni W et al Survey of compartment syndrome of the lower extremity after gynecological operations. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2014; 399: 343–348. - PubMed

Publication types