Intra-abdominal hypertension syndrome in children

Abstract

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are diagnosed in every third critically ill child and lethality in the syndrome of intra-abdominal hypertension (SIAH) is observed in more than half of children. The World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) consensus definitions and practical guidelines for diagnosis and management of IAH/ACS do not account for age-dependent anatomical and physiological characteristics of pediatric patients and are often ignored by health care professionals. Intra-abdominal pressure measurement is performed in less than half of critically ill patients. When applied in children, currently standard approach to diagnosis and treatment of IAH/ACS delivers unsatisfactory results. Timely abdominal decompression is mandatory for effective prevention of multiple organ failure and poor outcome. This article reviews the most common causes and risk factors, associated with intra-abdominal hypertension in children of different age groups; it discusses the pathophysiology of ACS, summarizes different techniques for intra-abdominal pressure measurement, overviews recent advances in assessment of target organ damage using instrumental and molecular diagnostic techniques, and highlights new treatment options in this patient population.