OBJECTIVETo establish a rabbit model of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and evaluate the impact of ACS on cardiovascular and respiratory functions and blood electrolyte levels in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups, namely the normal control group, ACS(5>\) group [intra-abdominal pressure (IAP)=5 mmHg], ACS(10) group (IAP=10 mmHg) and ACS(20) group (IAP=20 mmHg). ACS model was established by intra- abdominal bleeding (IAB) with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). All the data were recorded 1 h after inducing IAH including cardiovascular parameters (LVSP, LVEDP, ∓dp/dt max, SP, DP, HR, CVP), respiratory function (RR, PaO(2), PaCO(2), [HCO(3)(-)]), blood pH, and electrolyte level ([K(+)]).

RESULTSCompared with those in the normal control group, ACS20 group showed significantly decreased LVSP, LVEDP, ∓dp/dt max, SP, DP, HR, RR, PaO(2), [HCO(3)(-)], and blood pH but increased CVP, PaCO(2), and K(+) (P<0.05). In ACS(10) group, all the parameters except for RR and PaO(2) showed similar changes as seen in ACS(20) group (P<0.05) but with lower amplitudes of variations. In ACS(5) group, only LVSP and HR were reduced remarkably (P<0.05) while the other parameters showed no significant variations.

CONCLUSIONIAB plus IAH may cause damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory functions and lead to ACS in rabbits.