title: The abdominal compartment syndrome: a report of 3 cases including instance of endocrine induction.
abstract: Three patients with the abdominal compartment syndrome are presented and discussed. In one of the patients the condition was induced in an endocrine fashion, since trauma was sustained exclusively by the middle third of the left leg. The development of the syndrome as a remote effect of local trauma has never been reported previously. In all three instances only insignificant amounts of intraperitoneal fluid was found and the increase in abdominal pressure was due to severe edema of the mesentery and retroperitoneum. Since the condition is highly lethal, early diagnosis is imperative, and this starts by carrying a high index of suspicion. Measurement of the intraperitoneal pressure easily confirms this diagnosis. It is emphasized that measurements at various sites, like bladder and stomach, in each patient is essential to confirm the diagnosis, since one of the sites may be rendered unreliable due to intraperitoneal processes impinging on the affected site and affecting its distensibility.
authors.affiliation: Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Carlo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramirez Schon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suarez Irrizary
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villareal Olivas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camps Barazoin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medina Torres
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000150:complications; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications