To close or not to close? Treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome by neuromuscular blockade without laparostomy.
Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a recognised postoperative complication seen frequently in the intensive care unit (ICU). Surgical decompression and laparostomy remain the gold standard treatment for established ACS, combined with supportive non-surgical therapy, such as nasogastric decompression. In the following case report, we describe our successful management of a patient with established postoperative ACS by re-laparotomy to exclude a reversible cause, immediate re-closure of the abdomen and prolonged neuromuscular blockade, avoiding a laparostomy.
Davies
J
J
Department of General Surgery, York District Hospital, Hull/York Medical School, York, UK. mrjohn.davies@virgin.net
Aghahoseini
A
A
Crawford
J
J
Alexander
D J
DJ
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade / Q000379:methods*
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