abdominal compartment syndrome

Compartment syndrome refers to the manifestations of impaired tissue function and circulatory disturbance caused by increased pressure within a confined anatomical compartment. Compartment syndrome most commonly occurs in the fascial compartments of the limbs, known as osteofascial compartment syndrome. When it occurs in the eyeball, it is called glaucoma; when it occurs in the cranial cavity, it is termed intracranial hypertension syndrome; and when it occurs in the abdominal cavity, it is referred to as abdominal compartment syndrome. Abdominal compartment syndrome refers to organ failure or organ dysfunction caused by a rapidly progressive increase in intra-abdominal pressure. It is also known as acute intra-abdominal hypertension syndrome, intra-abdominal hypertension syndrome, or abdominal subcutaneous syndrome. Under physiological conditions, the mean intra-abdominal pressure is zero (equivalent to atmospheric pressure) or close to zero. Any increase in abdominal content volume can cause a rise in intra-abdominal pressure. However, in chronic conditions such as ascites, pregnancy, and huge abdominal tumors, the abdominal content volume increases slowly, the abdominal wall is gradually stretched, and there is no acute elevation of intra-abdominal pressure; therefore, acute intra-abdominal hypertension does not occur, and ACS does not develop. Thus, ACS is a syndrome that only appears when acute intra-abdominal hypertension reaches a certain degree.