• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2011

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening disorder caused by rapidly increasing intra-abdominal pressure. ACS can result in multiorgan failure and carries a mortality of 60~70%. The treatment of choice in ACS is surgical decompression. There are very few reports of ACS and experience in Korea. We report 12-year-old male patient who developed an abdominal compartment syndrome due to traffic-accident-induced retroperitoneal hematomas, Which was successfully treated by performing a bedside emergency surgical decompression with open linea alba fasciotomy with intact peritoneum. When patients do not respond to medical therapy, a decompressive laparotomy is the last surgical resort. In patients with severe abdominal compartment syndrome, the use of a linea alba fasciotomy is an effective intervention to lower intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) without the morbidity of a laparotomy. Use of a linea alba fasciotomy as a first-line intervention before committing to full abdominal decompression in patients with abdominal compartment syndrome improves physiological variables without mortality. Consideration for a linea alba fasciotomy as a bridge before full abdominal decompression needs further evaluation in patients with polytrauma abdominal compartment syndrome.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.312-315
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• 2013

Abdominal compartment syndrome is one cause of deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity. Although prophylactic dose of anticoagulation agent is safely started after 24~48 hours without the evidence of active bleeding, there may be bleeding complication related to invasive procedure which trauma victims undergo. Inferior vena cava filter should be considered in the treatment plan of this complex situation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.551-556
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• 2018

Cases of repeated acute gastric dilatations after binge eating in one patient are rarely reported. We report here a case of repeated acute gastric dilatations in a 22-year-old woman with bulimia nervosa. Her repeated acute gastric dilatations seem to have been related to superior mesenteric artery syndrome. On her last visit due to acute gastric dilatation, she underwent emergency gastric decompression surgery because of abdominal compartment syndrome; however, she eventually died because of ischemia reperfusion injury. Emergency physicians should be aware of the need to manage acute gastric dilatation in patients with eating disorder and should pay attention to the signs and distinctive clinical features of abdominal compartment syndrome.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2005

Background: Abdominal compartment syndrome has multiple etiologies that are not only related to trauma but also any problem condition in the absence of abdominal injury. To determine whether prevention of the abdominal compartment syndrome after celiotomy for trauma victims justifies the use of temporary abdominal coverage with monofilament knitted polypropylene mesh (Malex mesh) in severely injured patients. Method: Medical records at the Ajou University Medical Center were reviewed for a 32-month period from May 1st, 2002 to December 31st, 2004. Twenty-nine consecutive patients requiring celiotomy who were survived until at the end of celiotomy received temporary abdominal coverage and staged abdominal repairs with Malex mesh. One of them was dissecting aortic aneurysm patient and the others were all trauma victims. Malex mesh prosthesis coverage was used in cases of abdominal compartment syndrome due to excessive fascial tension, severe bowel edema and retroperitoneal hemorrhage or edema followed by staged abdominal repairs. Result: Eighteen of twenty-nine patients were survived. Demographic characteristics, injury severity number of abdominal-pelvic bone injuries, mortality rate, complications, number of operations for permanent closure, required time for permanent closure showed no difference between man and women or child and adult. Except one dissecting aortic aneurysm patient, trauma cases showed $3.24{\pm}0.98$ injury sites. All cases that received temporary abdominal coverage and staged abdominal repairs did not show abdominal compartment syndrome. $10.08{\pm}5.85$ days and $2.27{\pm}0.82$ times of operation required making permanent abdominal closure after temporary abdominal coverage followed by staged abdominal repairs. Most of surviving patients have shown antibiotic-resistant organism and fungus infection. Patients who received permanent closure recovered from infectious problem completely. Conclusion: The use of Malex mesh for temporary abdominal coverage in severely injured patients undergoing celiotomy was effective treatment method.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.172-177
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• 2012

Purpose: After damage control surgery, abdominal wall closure may be impossible due to increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and primary closure may induce abdominal compartment syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the IAP and the feasibility of abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh. Methods: From July 2010 to July 2011, 8 patients with intra-abdominal hypertension underwent abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh. Medical data such as demographics, diagnosis, operation, IAP, postoperative complications, mortality and length of hospital stays were collected and reviewed, retrospectively. One patient was excluded because of inadequate measurement of the IAP. Results: Seven patients, 4 males and 3 females, were enrolled, and the mean age was 54.1 years old. Causes of operations were six traumatic abdominal injuries and one intra-abdominal infection. The IAP was reduced from $21.9{\pm}6.6mmHg$ before opening the abdomen to $15.1{\pm}7.1mmHg$ after fascial closure. Fascial closure was done on $14.9{\pm}17.5$ days after the first operation. The mean lengths of the hospital and the intensive care unit (ICU) stays were 49.6 days and 29.7 days respectively. Operations were performed $3.1{\pm}1.5$ times in all patients. Two patients expired, and one was transferred in a moribund state. Three patients suffered from complications, such as retroperitoneal abscesses, enterocutaneous fistulas, and bleeding that was related to the negative pressure wound therapy. Conclusion: After abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh, intra-abdominal pressure was well controlled, and abdominal compartment syndrome does not occur. When the abdominal wall in patients who have intra-abdominal hypertension is closed, artificial mesh may be useful for maintaining a lower abdominal pressure. However, when negative pressure wound therapy is used, the possibility of serious complications must be kept in mind.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.102-105
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• 2023

Symptomatic extravasation of irrigation fluid is a rare complication of hip arthroscopy. However, depending on the amount of fluid, intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) may occur and even develop into abdominal compartment syndrome, which can seriously alter hemodynamic circulation. Therefore, it is important for anesthesiologists to promptly recognize the abnormal signs of IAH for early diagnosis and better clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, these signs are difficult to detect because they are usually obscured when the patient is under anesthesia and masked by surgical drapes. We report a case of IAH under general anesthesia during hip arthroscopy to highlight possible symptoms and signs.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2013

Purpose: The open abdomen is now the standard of care in various clinical situations, especially it is used to treat abdominal compartment syndrome. Many techniques have been reported for closure after an open abdomen, but most take a long time for complete definitive closure and are associated with various problems. We describe a technique using biologic mesh that can achieve early definitive closure after an open abdomen. Methods: A 45-year-old man presented to the emergency room with a painful hip and painful lower extremities after a fall from 80 feet. Radiologic examination revealed multiple fractures of the pelvis and low extremities. Abdominal compartment syndrome caused by a retroperitoneal hematoma developed during the orthopedic surgery. We performed exploration immediately and closed abdomen temporarily. A peritoneal graft of porcine dermal collagen with anterior myofascial approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles and sliding skin flap was performed three days after the previous surgery. Results: There were no complications related to the wound. The patient was transferred to the Department of Orthopedic Surgery seven days after the initial surgery. Conclusion: Early definitive closure using porcine dermal collagen is a feasible method that can reduce the length of hospitalization and the number of operations for an open abdomen.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2024

Hepatic compartment syndrome (HCS) is a rare but life-threatening entity that consists of a decreased portal flow due to intraparenchymal hypertension secondary to subcapsular liver hematoma. Lethal liver failure can be observed. We report three cases, and review the literature. A 54-year-old male was admitted for extensive hepatic subcapsular hematoma after blunt abdominal trauma. Initially, he underwent embolization of the hepatic artery's right branch, after which he presented clinical deterioration, major cytolysis (310 times the upper limit of normal [ULN]), and liver failure with a prothrombin time (PT) at 31.0%. A 56-year-old male underwent liver transplantation for acute alcoholic hepatitis. On postoperative day 2, he presented a hemorrhagic shock associated with deterioration of liver function (cytolysis 21 ULN, PT 39.0%) due to extensive hepatic subcapsular hematoma. A 59-year-old male presented a hepatic subcapsular hematoma five days after a cholecystectomy, revealed by abdominal pain with liver dysfunction (cytolysis 10 ULN, PT 63.0%). All patients ultimately underwent urgent surgery for liver capsule excision, hematoma evacuation, and liver packing, if needed. The international literature was screened for this entity. These three patients' outcomes were favorable, and all were alive at postoperative day 90. The literature review found 15 reported cases. HCS can occur after any direct or indirect liver trauma. Surgical decompression is the main treatment, and there is probably no place for arterial embolization, which may increase the risk of liver necrosis. A 13.3% mortality rate is reported. HCS is a rare complication of subcapsular liver hematoma that compresses the liver parenchyma, and leads to liver failure. Urgent surgical decompression is needed.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.38-42
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• 2014

Purpose: Gastroschisis and omphalocele are major anterior abdominal wall defects. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical differences and mortalities of gastroschisis and omphalocele in Asan Medical Center. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records was conducted of 103 cases of gastroschisis and omphalocele from September 1989 to February 2013 in Asan Medical Center in Korea. Results: There were 43 cases (41.7%) of gastroschisis and 60 cases (58.3%) of omphalocele. There was a female predominance in both gastroschisis (60.5%) and omphalocele (58.3%). The average gestational age at delivery was $36.7{\pm}0.4$ weeks for both groups. The mean birth weights were $2,381.9{\pm}80.6g$ for gastroschisis and $2,779.4{\pm}82.8g$ for omphalocele (p=0.001). Mean maternal ages in the gastroschisis and omphalocele groups were $27.5{\pm}0.7$ years and $30.5{\pm}0.7$ years, respectively (p=0.002). Associated malformations were documented in 13 infants (30.2%) with gastroschisis and 46 infants (76.7%) with omphalocele (p<0.001). All of gastroschisis patients except one underwent surgery including 31 primary repairs and 11 staged repairs. Fifty-two infants with omphalocele underwent surgery-primary repair in 41 infants and staged repair in 11 infants. Among 103 cases, 19 cases (18.4%) expired. Mortality rates of gastroschisis and omphalocele were 23.3% (10/43 cases) and 15.0% (9/60 cases), respectively (p=0.287). The main causes of death were abdominal compartment syndrome (6/10 cases) in gastroschisis, respiratory failure (4/9 cases) and discharge against medical advice (4/9 cases) in omphalocele. Conclusion: Gastroschisisis was associated with younger maternal age and lower birth weight than omphalocele. Associated malformations were more common in omphalocele. The mortality rates did not make a statistical significance. This might be the improvement of treatment of cardiac anomalies, because no patient died from cardiac dysfunction in our study. Furthermore, abdominal compartment syndrome might be the main cause of death in gastroschisis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2019

Purpose: There is increasing interest in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in critically ill patients. This study investigated the effects and outcomes of elevated IAP in a trauma intensive care unit (ICU) population. Methods: Eleven consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the trauma ICU at Pusan National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center were included in this study. IAP was measured every 8-12 hours (intermittently) for 72 hours. IAP was registered as mean and maximal values per day throughout the study period. IAH was defined as $IAP{\geq}12mmHg$. Abdominal compartment syndrome was defined as $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ plus ${\geq}1$ new organ failure. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Results: According to maximal and mean IAP values, 10 (90.9%) of the patients developed IAH during the study period. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was significantly higher in patients with $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ than in those with IAP <20 mmHg (16 vs. 5, p=0.049). The hospital mortality rate was 27.3%. Patients with a maximum $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ exhibited significantly higher hospital mortality rates (p=0.006). Non-survivors had higher maximum and mean IAP values. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an elevated IAP may be associated with a poor prognosis in critically ill trauma patients.