Abdominal Compartment Syndrome: diagnostic evaluation and possible treatment

Abstract

Background: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a clinical condition caused by an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The incidence is variable, based on the type of patients taken into consideration, increasing exponentially in critical conditions, such as traumatized, burned patients in shock. The syndrome can also follow surgical procedures like transplantation of abdominal organs, for example configuring rare pictures such as RACS (post-transplant kidney syndrome). In most cases the symptoms are non-specific and varied according to the different etiology of the ACS, therefore the diagnosis may not be immediate.

Aim: The aim of this work is to evaluate the best therapeutic approach based on the evidence in the literature.

Results: An early diagnosis, which can also identify the stages of intra-abdominal hypertension, is necessary to ensure the survival of the patient, implementing an integrated multidisciplinary treatment, expecially in the early stages of the development of the ACS.

Conclusions: The definitive treatment is surgical and is based on the decompression of the abdomen.

Keywords: Abdomen decompression; Renal Allograft Compartment Syndrome; Surgical emergency.