Annales de chirurgie
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Annales de chirurgie · Sep 2002
Case Reports[Bilateral compartment syndrome after colorectal surgery in the lithotomy position].
Lower limb compartment syndrome is an unusual but severe complication of prolonged surgery more than four hours in lithotomy position. It is usually a consequence of hypoperfusion of the lower extremities and muscle necrosis may occur. Several risk factors are pointed out: trendelenburg, the hardness of operating table, hypothermia, control hypotension, occlusion of arterial blood flow of the lower extremity, arteritis (and smoking), diabetes, obesity, arterial hypertension, myopathy and an important muscle mass. ⋯ A rapid diagnosis and aggressive management (i.e. resuscitation and aponevrotomy) is recommended. Neurological sequelae are sometimes invalidating. Reporting a case of bilateral syndrome, we reviewed the literature and describe the present diagnosis and therapeutic management as well as prevention modalities of this iatrogenic complication.