Acta Clin Belg
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Cardiovascular dysfunction and failure are commonly encountered in the patient with intra-abdominal hypertension or abdominal compartment syndrome. Accurate assessment and optimization of preload, contractility, and afterload, in conjunction with appropriate goal-directed resuscitation and abdominal decompression when indicated, are essential to restoring end-organ perfusion and maximizing patient survival. The validity of traditional hemodynamic resuscitation endpoints, such as pulmonary artery occlusion pressure and central venous pressure, must be reconsidered in the patient with intra-abdominal hypertension as these pressure-based estimates of intravascular volume have significant limitations in patients with elevated intra-abdominal pressure. ⋯ Volumetric monitoring techniques have been proven to be superior to traditional intra-cardiac filling pressures in directing the appropriate resuscitation of this patient population. Calculation of the "abdominal perfusion pressure", defined as mean arterial pressure minus intra-abdominal pressure, has been shown to be a beneficial resuscitation endpoint as it assesses not only the severity of the patient's intra-abdominal hypertension, but also the adequacy of abdominal blood flow. Application of a goal-directed resuscitation strategy, including abdominal decompression when indicated, improves cardiac function, reverses end-organ failure, and minimizes intra-abdominal hypertension-related patient morbidity and mortality.
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Cardiovascular dysfunction and failure are commonly encountered in the patient with intraabdominal hypertension or abdominal compartment syndrome. Accurate assessment and optimization of preload, contractility, and afterload, in conjunction with appropriate goal-directed resuscitation and abdominal decompression when indicated, are essential to restoring end-organ perfusion and maximizing patient survival. The validity of traditional hemodynamic resuscitation endpoints, such as pulmonary artery occlusion pressure and central venous pressure, must be reconsidered in the patient with intra-abdominal hypertension as these pressure-based estimates of intravascular volume have significant limitations in patients with elevated intra-abdominal pressure. ⋯ Volumetric monitoring techniques have been proven to be superior to traditional intra-cardiac filling pressures in directing the appropriate resuscitation of this patient population. Calculation of the "abdominal perfusion pressure", defined as mean arterial pressure minus intra-abdominal pressure, has been shown to be a beneficial resuscitation endpoint as it assesses not only the severity of the patient's intra-abdominal hypertension, but also the adequacy of abdominal blood flow. Application of a goal-directed resuscitation strategy, including abdominal decompression when indicated, improves cardiac function, reverses end-organ failure, and minimizes intra-abdominal hypertension-related patient morbidity and mortality.
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Patients with sepsis often receive large amounts of fluids and the presence of capillary leak, trauma or bleeding results in ongoing fluid resuscitation. This increases interstitial and intestinal edema and finally leads to intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), which in turn impedes lymphatic drainage. Patients with IAH often develop secondary respiratory failure needing mechanical ventilation with high intrathoracic pressure or PEEP that might further alter lymphatic drainage. This review will try to convince the reader of the importance of the lymphatics in septic patients with IAH. ⋯ Although often overlooked the role of lymphatic flow is complex but very important to determine not only the fluid balance in the lung but also in the peripheral organs. Different pathologies and treatments can markedly influence the pathophysiology of the lymphatics with dramatic effects on endorgan function.
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Gastrointestinal failure (GIF) has been postulated as the motor of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) but is not commonly included among other organ failures in scoring systems identifying MODS. ⋯ There is no consensus on definition of GIF and different medical specialties have different approaches. Development of a proper definition of GIF is warranted.
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Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and subsequent abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in burned patients is common. This sequence of events typically occurs in patients with larger burns receiving high volume fluid resuscitation. ⋯ Increasing amounts of volume delivery are associated with an increased risk of IAH. Therefore, intra-abdominal pressure should be monitored in all burn patients requiring massive fluid resuscitation. Escharotomy, paracentesis, and decompressive laparotomy may all be needed to counter the side effects of appropriate fluid resuscitation in the severely burned patient. Nevertheless, the prognosis in burn patients developing ACS is grim.