title: [Importance of abdominal compartment syndrome in Germany: a questionnaire].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening condition and may affect any critically ill patient. Little is known about the recognition and management of the ACS in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire was sent to departments of surgery and anesthesia of German hospitals with more than 450 beds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 222 eligible hospitals a total of 113 replies were received. Most respondents (95%) indicated that the ACS plays a role in their clinical practice. Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is not performed by 26% while it is routinely done by 30%. Intra-abdominal pressure is mostly (94%) assessed via the bladder pressure. Of the respondents 41% measure IAP only in those patients thought likely to develop ACS. Risk factors of the ACS would lead to IAP monitoring in 10-23% of cases. The majority (86%) would require signs of organ dysfunction together with exceeding the IAD threshold in order to opt for a surgical decompression. The attitude towards the critical threshold (>20 mmHg or >25 mmhg) divided respondents into two groups of similar size (39% compared to 47%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  German anesthesiologists and surgeons are familiar with the ACS. However, about one-quarter never measure IAP and there is a considerable variance as to which patients are at risk to develop ACS and how often IAP should be measured in these patients. This could indicate a lack of acceptance or simply a persisting need for more data concerning the avoidance and treatment of the ACS.
authors: Chirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland. jeotto@ukaachen.de
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Otto
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kaemmer
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Höer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jansen
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Schumpelick
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Strik
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Kuhlen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schachtrupp
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D002496:Central Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016638:Critical Illness; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology