Respiratory functions of burn patients undergoing decompressive laparotomy due to secondary abdominal compartment syndrome

Introduction

The development of secondary abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is associated with multiple organ dysfunction. There is little information about the effects of decompressive laparotomy (DL) on respiratory function (RF) in burn patients developing ACS.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively obtained data characterising RF from the database of an adult burn intensive care unit (BICU). Peak inspiratory pressure (Pip), PaO₂/FiO₂-ratio (P/F), static compliance (Cstat) and airway resistance (Raw) were analysed over the course of 60 h at 8 time points relative to DL.

Results

Thirty-five patients with ACS underwent DL with a mean percentage of total burned body surface area (TBSA) 39 ± 23% and mean intra-abdominal pressure 33 ± 7 mmHg. All patients presented with significantly deteriorating RF within 12 h of DL (Pip 33 ± 4 to 39 ± 7 cm/H₂O, p = 0.003; P/F 232 ± 59 to 160 ± 55 mmHg, p < 0.001, Cstat 34 ± 5 to 26 ± 6 mL/cmH₂O, p < 0.001; Raw 18 ± 3 to 24 ± 9 cmH₂O/L/s, p = 0.02). All these parameters improved significantly (p < 0.001) after DL, regardless of the presence of inhalation injury or torso burns. Mortality was 71.4%.

Conclusions

Variables characterising RF demonstrated a rapid deterioration before and a significant and sustained improvement after DL in burn patients developing ACS. Despite these respiratory improvements, DL was associated with low survival rates. Secondary ACS remains a challenge in burn patients and thus warrants particular attention during intensive care treatment.     

Avoidance of abdominal compartment syndrome in damage-control laparotomy after trauma

HYPOTHESIS: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a morbid complication of damage-control laparotomy. Moreover, the technique of abdominal closure influences the frequency of ACS. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Urban level I trauma center. PATIENTS: We studied 52 patients with trauma who required damage-control laparotomy during the 5 years ending December 31, 1999, and who survived longer than 48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abdominal compartment syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multiple organ failure (MOF). RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) age was 33 +/- 2 years; 38 (73%) were male. Mechanism of injury was blunt in 29 patients (56%), and mean (+/- SD) Injury Severity Score was 28 +/- 2. Development of ARDS and/or MOF was seen in 23 patients (44%); ARDS and MOF increased mortality from 12% (3/26) to 42% (11/26). Abdominal compartment syndrome was a common complication (17/52), and was associated with an increase in ARDS and/or MOF (12 patients [71%] vs 11 patients [31%] without ACS; P =.02, chi(2) test) and death (6 [35%] vs 8 patients [23%] without ACS). Primary fascial closure (n = 10) at the initial laparotomy was associated with ACS in 8 (80%) (P =.001, chi(2) test) and ARDS and/or MOF in 9 (90%) (P =.01, chi(2) test); skin closure (n = 25), with ACS in 6 (24%) and ARDS/MOF in 9 (36%); and Bogotá bag closure (n = 17), with ACS in 3 (18%) and ARDS/MOF in 8 (47%). CONCLUSIONS: Damage-control laparotomy is associated with frequent complications. In particular, ACS is a serious complication that increases ARDS and/or MOF and mortality. Avoiding primary fascial closure at the initial laparotomy can minimize the risk for ACS.     

The Wittmann Patch s a temporary abdominal closure device after decompressive celiotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome following burn

BACKGROUND: Abdominal compartment syndrome is frequently the result of aggressive fluid resuscitation after burn. Management of the open abdomen following decompressive celiotomy is a major problem. METHODS: From 2004 to mid-2005, six patients required decompressive celiotomy after developing abdominal compartment syndrome as a result of burn. A Wittmann Patch as used to close the abdominal wound. Patients were re-explored when clinical parameters improved and the abdomen was closed, with long-term follow-up for the abdominal wound. RESULTS: Of the six patients, five had thermal injury and one had electrical injury. The mean total body surface area affected for thermal burn was 78% and for electrical burn was 37%. Diagnosis of abdominal compartment syndrome was based on elevated bladder pressure and organ dysfunction. The patients were treated with decompressive celiotomy and Wittmann Patch closure. Survivors subsequently underwent primary abdominal closure, with no evidence of ventral hernia at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: In burn cases with abdominal compartment syndrome, a Wittmann Patch ay prove a helpful method of temporary abdominal closure, followed by primary closure with no complications.     

Decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome in children: before it is too late

Purpose

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in children is an infrequently reported, rapidly progressive, and often lethal condition underappreciated in the pediatric population. This underrecognition can result in a critical delay in diagnosis causing increased morbidity and mortality. This study examines the clinical course of patients treated for ACS at our institution.

Methods

A review of children requiring an emergency laparotomy (n = 264) identified 26 patients with a diagnosis of ACS. ACS was defined as sustained intraabdominal hypertension (bladder pressure >12 mm Hg) that was associated with new onset organ dysfunction or failure.

Results

Patients ranged in age from 3 months to 17 years old and were cared for in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Twenty-seven percent (n = 7) were transferred from referring hospitals, 50% (n = 13) were admitted directly from the emergency department, and 23% (n = 6) were inpatients before being transferred to PICU. Admission diagnoses included infectious enterocolitis (n = 12), postsurgical procedure (n = 10), and others (n = 4). Patients progressed to ACS rapidly, with most requiring decompressive laparotomy within 8 hours of PICU admission (range, <1-96 hours). Preoperatively, all patients had maximum ventilatory support and oliguria, 85% (n = 22) required vasopressors/inotropes, and 31% (n = 8) required hemodialysis. Mean bladder pressure was 25 mm Hg (range, 12-44 mm Hg). In 42% (n = 11), cardiac arrest preceeded decompressive laparotomy. All patients showed evidence of tissue ischemia before decompressive laparotomy with an average preoperative lactate of 8 (range, 1.2-20). Decompressive laparotomy was done at the bedside in the PICU in 13 patients and in the operating room in 14 patients. Abdominal wounds were managed with open vacuum pack or silastic silo dressings. Physiologic data including fluid resuscitation, oxygen index, mean airway pressure, vasopressor score, and urine output were recorded at 6-hour intervals beginning 12 hours before decompressive laparotomy and extending 12 hours after operation. The data demonstrate improvement of all physiologic parameters after decompressive laparotomy except for urine output, which continued to be minimal 12 hours post intervention. Mortality was 58% (n = 15) overall. The only significant factor related to increased mortality was bladder pressure (P = .046; odds ratio, 1.258). Cardiac arrest before decompressive laparotomy, need for hemodialysis, and transfer from referring hospital also trended toward increased mortality but did not reach significance.

Conclusion

Abdominal compartment syndrome in children carries a high mortality and may be a consequence of common childhood diseases such as enterocolitis. The diagnosis of ACS and the potential need for emergent decompressive laparotomy may be infrequently discussed in the pediatric literature. Increased awareness of ACS may promote earlier diagnosis, treatment, and possibly improve outcomes.     

Prune belly syndrome and abdominal wall reconstruction

The prune belly syndrome was first reported by Frolich in 1839 (Frolich F, Der Mangel der Muskeln insebesondere der Setinbauchmuskeln Dissertation, 1839) and is characterized by a triad of deficient abdominal musculature, intraabdominal testes, and dilatation of the urinary collecting system. These patients who often require urological procedures and subsequent reconstruction of the abdominal wall can prove to be an interesting plastic surgery challenge. The standard techniques for abdominal wall reconstruction can be used, but these must be modified to meet the needs of each individual patient. A 3-year-old boy with prune belly syndrome is presented who was referred to the plastic surgeons for abdominal wall reconstruction. He had already undergone multiple urological procedures and had a Mitrofanoff microstoma at the umbilicus. There have been no techniques described previously to deal with the umbilical stoma. The patient underwent a two-stage reconstruction. This included plication of the fibrous abdominal wall and deepithelialization of excess skin to provide a double layer of dermis. The patient is now 17 years old and has achieved a good result. In the techniques previously described, “redundant” excess skin was excised and discarded, together with some form of plication. We feel that excess skin in prune belly patients should not necessarily be thought of as redundant and may be used as a double layer of dermis to protect and enhance the underlying abdominal wall repair.     

Laparoscopic-assisted abdominal wall reconstruction in prune-belly syndrome

Prune-belly syndrome (PBS) refers to a congenital absence or weakness of the musculature of the abdominal wall, in conjunction with anomalies of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary systems. As such, many patients undergo numerous intra-abdominal procedures and develop significant peritoneal adhesions, making reoperation a challenging endeavor. Numerous approaches to abdominal wall reconstruction in patients with PBS have been reported. The authors describe a novel approach that uses laparoscopic visualization of intra-abdominal contents combined with abdominal wall plication. This technique has been safely performed in 6 patients with PBS. It is believed to improve safety and allows for bilateral, vertical, 2-layer, fascial plication to strengthen the abdominal wall.     

Surgical decompression for abdominal compartment syndrome after emergency cardiac surgery

Abdominal compartment syndrome typically occurs in patients after abdominal surgical procedures or trauma. Abdominal compartment syndrome is also increasingly described in conditions not related to abdominal operations, such as fluid resuscitation or burns. We report two patients who required surgical abdominal decompression for abdominal compartment syndrome that developed early after emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. No intraabdominal abnormalities were found at operation. Both patients had a protracted clinical course, but they survived and were discharged from the hospital.     

Abdominal compartment syndrome after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is an increasingly recognized syndrome of intra-abdominal hypertension and generalized physiological dysfunction in critically ill patients. Patients suffering a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) are at risk of developing ACS. The objective of the study was to compare the current views on the importance, prevalence and management of ACS after rAAA among Australian vascular surgeons and intensivists. A questionnaire was mailed to 116 registered vascular fellows from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and 314 registered fellows of the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine. Data were collected on the prevalence and importance of ACS after rAAA and whether prophylactic measures were or should be taken to prevent ACS. Hypothetical clinical scenarios representing a range of ACS after rAAA were also presented. The responses were compared using chi(2)-test and t-test. Sixty-seven per cent (78 of 116) of surgeons and 39% (122 of 314) of intensivists responded. Both groups estimated the prevalence of ACS after rAAA as between 10 and 30% and considered it an important entity. Only 30% of surgeons and 50% of intensivists suggested routine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring. In patients with borderline IAP (18 mmHg), both groups believed that surgical intervention was unnecessary. Intensivists were more inclined to suggest surgical intervention for clinically deteriorating patients with an increased IAP (30 mmHg) compared with surgeons. Forty-three per cent of intensivists and 17% of surgeons suggested prophylactic (leaving the abdomen open) measures to prevent ACS in high-risk patients. Surgeons and intensivists have similar views on the prevalence and clinical importance of ACS after rAAA. Intensivists more frequently monitored IAP and suggested both early prophylactic and therapeutic intervention for ACS based on physiological and IAP findings.     

开腹减压治疗重症急性胰腺炎并发腹腔间室综合征

Abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS)is an important factor contributing to the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome which is commonly seen in patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).As a life-saving procedure,decompressive laparotomy is widely applied to patients with SAP complicated with ACS,especially to patients with edema of the visceral tissues caused by massive fluid resuscitation at the early stage of the disease.However,decompressive laparotomy should be adopted with caution since it is associated with enteroatmospherie fistula,intraabdominal infection,postoperative ileus,third space losses,hypothermia and hemia.Therefore,decompressive laparotomy should only be considered after conservative management had failed.The indications for decompressive laparotomy are as follows:(1)intraabdominal pressure＞25 nnn Hg;(2)adequate ventilation of the patient is difficult;(3)pereutaneous drainage of ascites is not helpful.Timely temporal abdominal closure is helpful in preventing complications.Infected peripanereatie necrosis is the indication for peripancreatic exploration or necroseetomy.A thorough knowledge of decompressive laparotomy is essential for individualized management of patients with SAP complicated with ACS.     

Bloodless emergent laparotomy for acute abdominal syndrome

Bloodless laparotomy (BL) is defined as an opened exploration of the abdominal cavity that yields negative results, i.e., "provides no information as to the cause of the clinical and paraclinical symptoms responsible for prompting the surgical investigation". The authors report a retrospective study spanning January 1975 to December 1989, on the incidence of and mortality associated with emergent BL in patients with acute abdominal syndrome, with the intent of reducing its frequency. Over this period, 24 BL occurred in 3480 emergent laparotomies, i.e., 0.63%. These involved 7 men, 5 women, 5 boys and 7 girls, aged 4 to 52 years (mean age = 19.5 years). Indications for surgery were based on clinical signs, as well as on laboratory findings such as chest X-ray and plain radiography and needle-puncture of the abdomen. Surgical data indicated:liver cirrhosis--3 cases; mesenteric adenopathy--3 cases; intestinal parasitosis--1 case; bilateral adnescitis--1 case; polycystic ovaries--1 case; wall abscess--1 case; unexplained pain--14 cases. The mortality rate was 2/24. Use of other paraclinical investigations, namely ultrasonography, laparoscopy and peritoneal lavage, and of computer science methods after a prior clinical examination initiated by history-taking, might help reduce the rate of BLs, which are non-devoid of mortality.     

The abdominal compartment syndrome

The abdominal compartment syndrome refers to the alterations in respiratory mechanics, hemodynamic parameters and renal function that occur as a result of a sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The syndrome may follow a diverse series of insults, including laparotomy for severe abdominal trauma, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and intra-abdominal infection. Diagnosis depends on recognizing the clinical picture in patients at risk, followed by an objective measurement of intra-abdominal pressure. Successful management may require abdominal decompression with temporary abdominal closure. Despite urgent decompression, the death rate is high because of the severity of the patients’ underlying illness.     

The abdominal compartment syndrome

The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) causes dysfunctions of various organs through a progressive unphysiologic increase of the intraabdominal pressure. While the primary ACS is a result of the underlying disease/injury, secondary ACS is caused by surgical interventions. In the severely injured patient intra- and/or retroperitoneal bleeding, edema of viscera due to systemic ischemia reperfusion injury following hemorrhagic shock, abdominal/pelvic packing, and laparotomy closure under tension lead to ACS. The clinical signs of ACS are a tense abdomen with a decreased abdominal wall compliance. Early signs of ACS are a rise in inspiratory pressure and oliguria. Manifest ACS results in anuria, respiratory failure, reduced intestinal perfusion, and low cardiac output syndrome. If untreated, patients die due to left ventricular failure. Diagnosis of ACS is made using the patient's history including the injury pattern, the symptoms, the time period between injury and the occurrence of organ dysfunctions, and the physiologic response to decompression. Frequent determinations of the bladder pressure represent the "golden standard" for early recognition of ACS. Decompressive laparotomy should be performed with a bladder pressure > or = 20 mmHg and rapidly restores impaired organ functions. In the case of a multiple injured patients in shock or with associated severe head injury decompressive laparotomy may even be carried out at a lower bladder pressure. The abdomen is left open. In most patients staged laparotomy is necessary. The final closure of the abdominal wall is carried out after the edema have resolved between day 6 and 8 after primary laparotomy.