INTRA-ABDOMINAL HYPERTENSION AND ABDOMINAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME: REPERCUSSIONS AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are critical conditions frequently underdiagnosed in intensive care units, associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to analyze the systemic repercussions and management strategies of these pathologies based on recent scientific literature. To this end, an integrative literature review was conducted, selecting 15 articles published between 2020 and 2025 in the PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The results demonstrate that elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) triggers multisystemic organ failure, highlighting early acute kidney injury, reduced cardiac output due to impaired venous return, and compromised ventilatory mechanics. The discussion emphasizes that management should be escalated, starting with conservative measures such as gastric decompression, fluid optimization, and analgesia, reserving decompressive laparotomy for refractory ACS cases. It is concluded that systematic IAP monitoring must be integrated as a vital sign in critical patients, with early intervention being the determining factor for improving prognosis and reducing irreversible systemic complications.