title: Treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome with subcutaneous anterior abdominal fasciotomy in severe acute pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Managing the abdominal compartment syndrome associated with severe acute pancreatitis by the open abdomen method is associated with considerable morbidity and resource utilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A technique of subcutaneous anterior abdominal fasciotomy is described for the first time in two patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the procedure, the intra-abdominal pressure decreased from 30 mmHg immediately to 23 mmHg and to a sustained level of 12-14 mmHg in the first patient, and from 35 mmHg immediately to 23 mmHg and to a sustained level of 14-19 mmHg in the second patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subcutaneous anterior abdominal fasciotomy is a promising method for safe and effective abdominal decompression with sustained effect and avoiding the morbidity associated with the alternative open abdomen techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and General Surgery, Meilahti Hospital, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland. ari.leppaniemi@hus.fi
authors.forename: Ari K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Leppäniemi
authors.forename: Piia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hienonen
authors.forename: Jukka E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Siren
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kuitunen
authors.forename: Outi K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.forename: Esko A J
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000328:Adult; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000150:complications*