title: A rare cause of abdominal compartment syndrome: acute trichlorethylene overdose.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical signs of acute trichlorethylene overdose are commonly coma, cardiac conduction disturbances, diarrhea, and vomiting. We report a case of intentional massive trichlorethylene ingestion inducing a fatal abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 47-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department after intentionally ingesting 500 mL of trichlorethylene and benzodiazepines. She rapidly developed coma and abdominal distension leading to multiple organ failure. Subsequent surgical evaluation revealed abdominal perforation and necrosis, and life-sustaining treatments were therefore withdrawn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a primary ACS that can be explained from experimental data on the pathophysiology of pneumatosis cystoides coli. For this case, we discuss multiple etiological factors for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAP), such as paralytic ileus and massive fluid resuscitation due to the direct toxicity of ingested trichlorethylene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients ingesting trichlorethylene need to be closely evaluated for risk of digestive damage and perforation. Early prompt laparotomy must be performed in cases of ACS.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Reanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liotier
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Gaëtan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plantefeve
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duale
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deteix
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Souweine
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coudoré
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000506:poisoning*; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013405:Suicide; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D014241:Trichloroethylene