Cecilia Bigio*, Cesar Lemos
The abdominal compartment syndrome affects critically ill patients under pediatric intensive care. It is characterized by abdominal hypertension with dysfunction of one or more organ systems. Unrestricted fluid resuscitation is one of the risk factors for its development. Early recognition of intra abdominal hypertension is necessary so that clinical or surgical measures can be taken in order to prevent the evolution to abdominal compartment syndrome and a subsequent irreversible multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The aim of this study is to report two cases of abdominal compartment syndrome in an intensive care unit in a pediatric hospital, conduct a literature review on the subject and alert to the need to adopt internal routines to ensure early monitoring and approach to intra abdominal hypertension, before a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome sets in, thus aiming to reduce its morbidity and mortality. In the world literature, there is little information about the abdominal compartment syndrome in relation to the pediatric population. Thabet, et al. published a guideline for this population. Intra abdominal pressure should be routinely monitored in critically ill patients who have one or more risk factors for abdominal compartment syndrome. If intra abdominal hypertension is detected, intra abdominal pressure should be serially monitored. Early recognition of intra abdominal hypertension and prevention of abdominal compartment syndrome is the ideal treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome in pediatrics. Multicenter studies and quality projects in intensive care units are needed for its early recognition, monitoring and treatment, since it has high morbidity and mortality.