Life Saving Abdominal Decompression in a Patient with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

Severe acute pancreatitis can be complicated early in its course by life threatening conditions such as abdominal compartment syndrome. We report a patient who needed abdominal decompression three days after admission to the intensive care unit because of intra-abdominal hypertension and end stage organ dysfunction. The clinical course was protracted, but the patient survived and was discharged from the hospital.

Key Words:

• Severe acute pancreatitis
• abdominal compartment syndrome
• intra-abdominal hypertension

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. J. De Waele

J. J. De Waele, M.D. Intensive Care Unit 1K12-C Ghent University Hospital De Pintelaan 185 B-9000 Gent, Belgium E-mail: [email protected]