OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical management of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in burn patients with severe burn injury.

METHODSTwelve serious burn patients with abdominal compartment syndrome hospitalized in our center from January 2001 to April 2005 were enrolled in the study. Among them 3 patients were treated with conservative method, 4 with escharectomy of abdominal wall, 5 with laparotomy for decompression. The clinical results were analyzed statistically. Bladder pressure, central venous pressure, systolic blood pressure and arterial blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 ) were measured and compared before and after operation.

RESULTSAmong these 12 patients, 5 died with the overall mortality of 41.67%. But only 3 died among 9 patients undergone operation. Most of patients were oliguric,with abnormal bladder pressure, central venous pressure, and systolic blood pressure 24 hours before operation. But these parameters were significantly improved after operation ( P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONEarly abdominal escharectomy and timely abdominal decompression are vital for the management of ACS in burn patients.

Abdomen ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Burns ; complications ; therapy ; Compartment Syndromes ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

This case demonstrates a rare variation in the pattern of injury and the presentation of acute lateral compartment syndrome of the leg. Although uncommon, lateral compartment syndrome of the leg after an ankle inversion leading to peroneus longus muscle rupture has been previously documented. This case was unusual because there was no overt ankle injury and the patient was able to continue physical activity, in spite of a significant rupture of the peroneus longus muscle that was determined later. This case highlights the necessary vigilance clinicians must maintain when assessing non-contact injuries in patients with possible compartment syndrome.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; *Compartment Syndromes/pathology/surgery ; Humans ; *Leg/pathology/surgery ; Male ; *Muscle, Skeletal/injuries/surgery ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Young Adult

Calcific myonecrosis is a rare late post-traumatic condition, in which a single muscle is replaced by a fusiform mass with central liquefaction and peripheral calcification. Compartment syndrome is suggested to be the underlying cause. The resulting mass may expand with time due to recurrent intralesional hemorrhage into the chronic calcified mass. A diagnosis may be difficult due to the long time between the original trauma and the symptoms of calcific myonecrosis. We encountered a 53-year-old male patient diagnosed with calcific myonecrosis in the lower leg. We report the case with a review of the relevant literature.
Calcinosis/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Compartment Syndromes/complications ; Humans ; *Leg ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal/pathology ; Muscular Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Necrosis

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is one of the most serious and often lethal complications of anticoagulation therapy. The clinical symptoms vary from femoral neuropathy to abdominal compartment syndrome or fatal hypovolemic shock. Of these symptoms, abdominal compartment syndrome is the most serious of all, because it leads to anuria, worsening of renal failure, a decrease in cardiac output, respiratory failure, and intestinal ischemia. We report a case of a spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage in a 48-year-old female who had been receiving warfarin and aspirin for her artificial aortic valve. She presented with a sudden onset of lower abdominal pain, dizziness and a palpable abdominal mass after prolonged straining to defecate. Computed tomography demonstrated a huge retroperitoneal hematoma and active bleeding from the right internal iliac artery. After achieving successful bleeding control with transcatheter arterial embolization, surgical decompression of the hematoma was performed for management of the femoral neuropathy and the abdominal compartment syndrome. She recovered without any complications. We suggest that initial hemostasis by transcatheter arterial embolization followed by surgical decompression of hematoma is a safe, effective treatment method for a spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage complicated with intractable pain, femoral neuropathy, or abdominal compartment syndrome.
Abdomen ; Anticoagulants/*adverse effects ; Compartment Syndromes/*etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/chemically induced/*congenital ; Hematoma/etiology/surgery ; Humans ; Iliac Artery/pathology/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Snakebite is an emergency which causes local symptoms such as pain and edema around the bite. Systemic symptoms may also develop, such as dizziness or renal failure, and may even cause death. The purpose of this research was to assess the validity and safety of snakebite protocol for surgery when treating snakebite patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective research was performed on patients who were admitted after being treated at the emergency center from January 2008 to December 2012. When necessary, debridement was also performed, and 46 of 111 patients (41.4%) underwent debridement. Those who had received debridement without antivenom administration due to a positive skin reaction test were classified as group A, and group B received antivenom and delayed debridement. We reviewed the emergency and admission charts of the patients in each group and recorded and compared their age, sex, bite site, severity of local and general symptoms, time to receive antivenin, and complications. RESULTS: Of the ten patients (21.7%) in group A, two (66.6%) developed cellulites, and one of them experienced skin necrosis, resulting in a skin graft. In group B, there were 36 patients (78.2%), 19 (52.7%) of whom developed cellulitis. Skin necrosis occurred in two patients, and one of these patients received a skin graft. Compartment syndrome was found in one patient, and fasciotomy and a skin graft were performed. CONCLUSION: The treatment protocol implemented to treat snakebite patients admitted to the emergency center during this research was safely and properly followed during surgical treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Antivenins/administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Compartment Syndromes ; Debridement/*methods ; Disease Management ; Edema/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; *Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Skin/pathology ; Skin Transplantation/*methods ; Snake Bites/complications/*diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Snake Venoms/adverse effects ; Soft Tissue Injuries/etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing/physiology