• Manu L N G Malbrain, Michael L Cheatham, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Michael Sugrue, Michael Parr, Jan De Waele, Zsolt Balogh, Ari Leppäniemi, Claudia Olvera, Rao Ivatury, Scott D'Amours, Julia Wendon, Ken Hillman, Kenth Johansson, Karel Kolkman, and Alexander Wilmer.
• Department of Intensive Care, Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen, Campus Stuivenberg, Lange Beeldekensstraat 267, 2060, Antwerpen 6, Belgium. manu.malbrain@skynet.be
• Intensive Care Med. 2006 Nov 1;32(11):1722-32.

ObjectiveIntra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) have been increasingly recognized in the critically ill over the past decade. The variety of definitions proposed has led to confusion and difficulty in comparing one study to another.DesignAn international consensus group of critical care specialists convened at the second World Congress on Abdominal Compartment Syndrome to standardize definitions for IAH and ACS based upon the current understanding of the pathophysiology surrounding these two syndromes.MethodsPrior to the conference the authors developed a blueprint for the various definitions, which was further refined both during and after the conference. The present article serves as the final report of the 2004 International ACS Consensus Definitions Conference and is endorsed by the World Society of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS).ResultsIAH is redefined as an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) at or above 12 mmHg. ACS is redefined as an IAP above 20 mmHg with evidence of organ dysfunction/failure. ACS is further classified as either primary, secondary, or recurrent based upon the duration and cause of the IAH-induced organ failure. Standards for IAP monitoring are set forth to facilitate accuracy of IAP measurements from patient to patient.ConclusionsState-of-the-art definitions for IAH and ACS are proposed based upon current medical evidence as well as expert opinion. The WSACS recommends that these definitions be used for future clinical and basic science research. Specific guidelines and recommendations for clinical management of patients with IAH/ACS are published in a separate review.

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