Four cases of abdominal compartment syndrome in patients suffering major burns, who were treated at Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, from January 1998 to June 2003, are reported. The pathophysiological changes, and the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition are also described. The significance of early diagnosis of this syndrome is discussed. The literature is ...

The abdominal compartment syndrome is a state of serious organ dysfunction. The syndrome results from sustained intra-abdominal hypertension, which is indirectly identified by measuring intra-bladder pressures (IBPs) using various priming volumes. This technique is poorly standardized across published data. Malbrain and Deeren have identified the risk of falsely elevated IBPs with instillation ...

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. Anthrax is a zoonotic disease with three clinical forms. Clinical forms are skin, gastrointestinal and inhalational anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax is 95% of the cases. Cutaneous anthrax frequently defines itself. Clinical presentation of anthrax may be severe and complicated in some cases. There may seem complications like meningitis, septic sho...

Snakebite is a particularly important health problem in rural areas of tropical regions. A large number of victims survive with permanent physical sequelae due to local tissue necrosis. However, necrosis may be associated with compartment syndrome especially when the bite is on the hands or feet. Herein, we describe two cases reported at a rural district hospital in Central African Republic. Th...

Compartment syndrome is a potentially limband life-threatening clinical entity resulting from elevated intra-compartmental pressures. A high clinical suspicion is paramount in diagnosis since full recovery is time-sensitive. We present a unique case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemiainduced (CMML) compartment syndrome which illustrates the importance of quick diagnosis and treatment.

Primary polydipsia occurs in up to 25% of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders (especially schizophrenia), related to the disease, its treatment or both. Urine output fails to match intake >10 L/day and water intoxication may develop. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication of hyponatremia, and an acute anterior compartment syndrome of the leg, an emergency, may be very rarely associated.

Open abdomen management is commonly used for the critically injured patients to avoid abdominal compartment syndrome. But it usually continues for days to weeks and finally results in abdominal wall defect that is too wide to close at once. This article presents an alternative approach to close the giant abdominal wall defect by using the combination of bipedicled flaps with the components sepa...

Intracompartmental pressure monitoring remains the primary method of diagnosing chronic compartment syndrome. MIBI perfusion imaging is widely available and oVers a radionuclear imaging technique for diagnosing this condition. Although the results are not identical with those from pressure monitoring, MIBI may oVer a useful screening test for this condition. (Br J Sports Med 1999;33:49–51)

Abdominal compartment syndrome's manifestations are difficult to definitively detect on physical examination alone. Therefore, objective criteria have been articulated that aid the bedside clinician in detecting intra-abdominal hypertension as well as the abdominal compartment syndrome to initiate prompt and potentially life-saving intervention. At-risk patient populations should be routinely m...