Prevalence of intra-abdominal hypertension and markers for associated complications among severe burn patients: a multicenter prospective cohort study (BURNIAH study).

PURPOSE: Severely burned patients are at risk for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and associated complications such as organ failure, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), and death. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IAH among severely burned patients. The secondary aim was to determine the value of urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) as early marker for IAH-associated complications. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed in two burn centers in the Netherlands. Fifty-eight patients with burn injuries ≥ 15% of total body surface area (TBSA) were included. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and urinary I-FABP, measured every 6 h during 72 h. Prevalence of IAH, new organ failure and ACS, and the value of urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) as early marker for IAH-associated complications were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-one (53%) patients developed IAH, 17 (29%) patients developed new organ failure, but no patients developed ACS. Patients had burns of 29% (P25-P75 19-42%) TBSA. Ln-transformed levels of urinary I-FABP and IAP were inversely correlated with an estimate of - 0.06 (95% CI - 0.10 to - 0.02; p = 0.002). Maximal urinary I-FABP levels had a fair discriminatory ability for patients with IAH with an area under the ROC curve of 74% (p = 0.001). Urinary I-FABP levels had no predictive value for IAH or new organ failure in severe burn patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IAH among patients with ≥ 15% TBSA burned was 53%. None of the patients developed ACS. A relevant diagnostic or predictive value of I-FABP levels in identifying patients at risk for IAH-related complications, could not be demonstrated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, epidemiologic and diagnostic prospective observational study.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein as a predictor for intra-abdominal pressure-related complications in patients admitted to the intensive care unit; a prospective cohort study (I-Fabulous study).

PURPOSE: Critically ill patients are at risk for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and related complications such as organ failure, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), and death. This study aimed to determine the value of urinary and serum intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) levels as early marker for IAH-associated complications. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in two academic institutional mixed medical-surgical ICUs in the Netherlands. Adult patients admitted to the ICU with two or more risk factors for IAH (198) were included. Urinary and serum I-FABP and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) were measured every six hours during 72 h. RESULTS: Fifteen (8%) patients developed ACS and 74 (37%) developed new organ failure. I-FABP and IAP were positively correlated. Patients who developed ACS had higher median baseline levels of urinary I-FABP (235(P25-P75 85-1747)µg/g creat) than patients with IAH who did not develop ACS (87(P25-P75 33-246)µg/g, p = 0.037). With an odds ratio of 1.00, neither urinary nor serum I-FABP indicated increased risk for developing new organ failure or ACS. CONCLUSIONS: A relevant diagnostic value of I-FABP levels for identifying individual patients at risk for intra-abdominal pressure related complications could not be demonstrated.

Relation between intra-abdominal pressure and early intestinal ischemia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on early irreversible effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Therefore, timing of abdominal decompression among patients with abdominal compartment syndrome remains challenging. The study objective was to determine the relation between IAP and respiratory parameters, hemodynamic parameters, and early intestinal ischemia. METHODS: Twenty-five anesthetized and ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups exposed to IAPs of 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 mm Hg for 3 hours. Respiratory parameters, hemodynamic parameters, and serum albumin-cobalt binding (ACB) capacity as measure for systemic ischemia were determined. Intestines were processed for histopathology. RESULTS: IAP was negatively associated with mean arterial pressure at 90 (Spearman correlation coefficient; Rs=-0.446, p=0.025) and 180 min (Rs=-0.466, p=0.019), oxygen saturation at 90 min (Rs=-0.673, p<0.001) and 180 min (Rs=-0.882, p<0.001), and pH value at 90 (Rs=-0.819, p<0.001) and 180 min (Rs=-0.934, p<0.001). There were no associations between IAP and lactate level or ACB capacity. No histological signs for intestinal ischemia were found. DISCUSSION: Although increasing IAP was associated with respiratory and hemodynamic difficulties, no signs for intestinal ischemia were found. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level II.

Recognition and management of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome; a survey among Dutch surgeons.

PURPOSE: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are relatively rare, but severe complications. Although many advances were made in recent years, the recognition and management remain subject of debate. The aim of this study was to determine the current state of awareness, knowledge and use of evidence-based medicine regarding IAH and ACS among Dutch surgeons. METHODS: A literature-based and expert consensus survey was developed. One surgeon in every hospital in The Netherlands was asked to complete the online questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty of 87 (69 %) invited surgeons completed the questionnaire. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured using intra-vesical methods by 55 (98 %) respondents. Diuretics (N = 38; 63 %) and laparotomy (N = 33; 55 %) were considered useful treatments for IAH or prevention of ACS by a majority. Only 16 (27 %) respondents used these guidelines in daily practice, and 37 (62 %) respondents are willing to do so. Although 35 (58 %) surgeons agreed that IAH is only a symptom, not requiring treatment. Forty-one percent of experienced respondents suggested that prevalence of ACS remained unchanged. Nearly all respondents (N = 59; 98 %) believed that open abdomen management improves patient outcomes, many (N = 46; 77 %) confirm the high complications rate of this treatment. CONCLUSION: The definitions of IAH and ACS and the related diagnostic and therapeutic challenges are relatively well known by Dutch surgeons. Despite limited use of the evidence-based guidelines, the willingness to do so is high. Most respondents favor open abdomen treatment for patients with imminent ACS, despite the high complication rates associated with this treatment.

Identifying patients at risk for high-grade intra-abdominal hypertension following trauma laparotomy.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is an uncommon but deleterious complication after trauma laparotomy. Early recognition of patients at risk of developing ACS is crucial for their outcome. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of patients who developed high-grade intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) (i.e., grade III or IV; intra-abdominal pressure, IAP >20 mm Hg) following an injury-related laparotomy versus those who did not (i.e., IAP ≤20 mm Hg). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive trauma patients admitted to a level 1 trauma centre in Australia between January 1, 1995 and January 31, 2010 was performed. A comparison was made between characteristics of patients who developed high-grade IAH following trauma laparotomy versus those who did not. RESULTS: A total of 567 patients (median age 31 years) were included in this study. Of these patients 10.2% (58/567) developed high-grade IAH of which 51.7% (30/58) developed ACS. Patients with high-grade IAH were older (p<0.001), had a higher Injury Severity Score (p<0.001), larger base deficit (p<0.001) and lower temperature at admission (p=0.011). In the first 24h of admission, patients with high-grade IAH received larger volumes of crystalloids (p<0.001), larger volumes of colloids (p<0.001) and more units of packed red blood cells (p<0.001). Following surgery prolonged prothrombin (p<0.001) and partial thromboplastin times (p<0.001) were seen. The patients with high-grade IAH suffered higher mortality rates (25.9% (15/58) vs. 12.2% (62/509); p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Of all patients who underwent a trauma laparotomy, 10.2% developed high-grade IAH, which increases the risk of mortality. Patients with acidosis, coagulopathy, and hypothermia were especially at risk. In these patients, the abdomen should be left open until adequate resuscitation has been achieved, allowing for definitive surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This is a level III retrospective study.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein as a marker for intra-abdominal pressure-related complications in patients admitted to the intensive care unit; study protocol for a prospective cohort study (I-Fabulous study).

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) have detrimental effects on all organ systems and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Intra-bladder measurement of the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is currently the gold standard. However, IAH is not always indicative of intestinal ischemia, which is an early and rapidly developing complication. Sensitive biomarkers for intestinal ischemia are needed to be able to intervene before damage becomes irreversible. Gut wall integrity loss, including epithelial cell disruption and tight junctions breakdown, is an early event in intestinal damage. Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (I-FABP) is excreted in urine and blood specifically from damaged intestinal epithelial cells. Claudin-3 is a specific protein which is excreted in urine following disruption of intercellular tight junctions. This study aims to investigate if I-FABP and Claudin-3 can be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying patients at risk for IAP-related complications. METHODS/DESIGN: In a multicenter, prospective cohort study 200 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with at least two risk factors for IAH as defined by the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) will be included. Patients in whom an intra-bladder IAP measurement is contra-indicated or impossible and patients with inflammatory bowel diseases that may affect I-FABP levels will be excluded. The IAP will be measured using an intra-bladder technique. During the subsequent 72 hours, the IAP measurement will be repeated every six hours. At these time points, a urine and serum sample will be collected for measurement of I-FABP and Claudin-3 levels. Clinical outcome of patients during their stay at the intensive care unit will be monitored using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. DISCUSSION: Successful completion of this trial will provide evidence on the eventual role of the biomarkers I-FABP and Claudin-3 in predicting the risk of IAP-associated adverse outcome. This may aid early (surgical) intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR4638).

A systematic review on intra-abdominal pressure in severely burned patients.

OBJECTIVE: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are complications that may occur in severely burned patients. Evidenced based medicine for these patients is in its early development. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of literature regarding IAH and ACS in severely burned patients. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL on October 1, 2012. These databases were searched on 'burn', 'intra-abdominal hypertension', 'abdominal compartment syndrome', synonyms and abbreviations. Studies reporting original data on mortality, abdominal decompression or abdominal pressure related complications were included. RESULTS: Fifty publications met the criteria, reporting 1616 patients. The prevalence of ACS and IAH in severely burned patients is 4.1-16.6% and 64.7-74.5%, respectively. The mean mortality rate for ACS in burn patients is 74.8%. The use of plasma and hypertonic lactated resuscitation may prevent IAH or ACS. Despite colloids decrease resuscitation volume needs, no benefit in preventing IAH was proven. Escharotomy, peritoneal catheter drainage, and decompression laparotomy are effective intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) diminishing treatments in burn patients. Markers for IAP-related organ damage might be superior to IAP measurement itself. CONCLUSION: ACS and IAH are frequently seen devastating complications in already severely injured burn patients. Prevention is challenging but can be achieved by improving fluid resuscitation strategies. Surgical decompression measures are effective and often unavoidable. Timing is essential since decompression should prevent progression to ACS rather than limit its effects. Prognosis of ACS remains poor, but options for care improvement are available in literature.