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Abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with strangulated hernia

Hernia volume 12, pages 613–620 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Intestinal obstruction (IO) leads to increased intra-abdominal pressure and abdominal compartment syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with IO secondary to strangulated hernia.

Methods

We studied 81 consecutive unselected patients presenting complicated hernias and IO. We measured intra-abdominal pressure using the intra-vesicular pressure method.

Results

Preoperative (15 min) intra-abdominal pressure was higher in patients with strangulated hernias. Postoperative (15 min) intra-abdominal pressure in both groups decreased to similar values. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured during the preoperative period in patients with strangulated hernias and during the postoperative period at 15 min (13.8 ± 6.4 mmHg), 24 h (9.8 ± 3.2 mmHg) and 48 h (7.4 ± 2.4 mmHg). Abdominal compartment syndrome developed in 47% cases with strangulated hernias with a mortality of five patients.

Conclusions

Serial measurements of intra-abdominal pressure evidenced the clinical severity of strangulated hernia. Intra-abdominal pressure measurement may be used as a predictor of intestinal strangulation in patients presenting acute abdominal compartment syndrome secondary to complicated hernia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank M.A. Contreras, M.D., for his helpful advice in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hospital de Ovalle, Ovalle, Chile

    M. A. Beltrán & K. S. Cruces

  2. Emergency Unit, Hospital de Ovalle, Ovalle, Chile

    M. A. Beltrán & R. A. Villar

  3. P.O. Box 912, Manuel Antonio Caro 2629, San Joaquín, La Serena, Región de Coquimbo, Chile

    M. A. Beltrán

Authors
  1. M. A. Beltrán
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  2. R. A. Villar
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  3. K. S. Cruces
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Beltrán.

Additional information

This work was read at the XVII Latin American surgical congress of FELAC (Latin American Surgical Federation) held in Santiago, Chile, 18–22 November 2007.

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Beltrán, M.A., Villar, R.A. & Cruces, K.S. Abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with strangulated hernia. Hernia 12, 613–620 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-008-0394-9

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Keywords

  • Abdominal compartment syndrome
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Strangulated hernia
  • Intra-abdominal pressure