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This week's pearl is courtesy of Dr. Evie Marcolini. Thanks Evie!
Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Burn Patients
- Patients who receive > 250 ml/kg of fluid in the the 24 hours after burn injury will most likely require abdominal decompression.
- In light of this, bladder pressure monitoring should be part of your practice in resuscitation of the patient with >30% TBSA burns.
- The simple act of placing the bladder probe will increase awareness of the possibility of ACS and prompt measurement of abdominal compartment pressures.
- ACS can be treated with decompressive laparotomy, or in some cases, percutaneous abdominal decompression.
References
Latenser BA. Critical care of the burn patient: The first 48 hours. Crit Care Med 2009;37:2819-2826.