[RESENT - STILL FIXING CODE - THESE TEST EMAILS SHOULD CEASE SHORTLY... SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE]

• Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is increasingly identified in the critically ill medical patient population
• ACS is defined as a sustained intra-abdominal pressure > 20 mmHg associated with new organ dysfunction
• Primary organs adversely affected by ACS include cardiac, pulmonary, GI, and renal
• To date, associated mortality rates have ranged from 27% to 50%
• Risk factors for ACS include:
  • massive fluid resuscitation ( >10 L crystalloid in 24 hours)
  • massive transfusion ( > 10 U PRBCs in 24 hours)
  • severe sepsis or septic shock from any cause
  • mechanical ventilation
  • PEEP > 10 cm H20
• Intravesicular (bladder) pressures are currently the standard monitoring modality
• Decompressive laparotomy is the current standard for management of ACS