Compartment Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatments
Compartment Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatments
Most people with acute compartment syndrome require immediate surgery to reduce the compartment pressure. A surgeon makes long incisions through the skin and the fascia layer underneath (fasciotomy), releasing excessive pressure.
Other supportive treatments include:
Chronic compartment syndrome can first be treated by avoiding the activity that caused it and with stretching and physical therapy exercises. Surgery is not as urgent in chronic or exertional compartment syndrome, but it may be required to relieve pressure.
Abdominal compartment syndrome treatments include life support measures like mechanical ventilation, medicines to support blood pressure (vasopressors), and kidney replacement therapies (such as dialysis). Surgery to open the abdomen in order to reduce the compartment syndrome pressures may be necessary. The best time to perform surgery in people with abdominal compartment syndrome is often not clear. Surgery for abdominal compartment syndrome may be lifesaving, but can also cause complications.
In this article
- What Happens in Compartment Syndrome?
- Compartment Syndrome Causes
- Compartment Syndrome Symptoms
- Compartment Syndrome Diagnosis
- Compartment Syndrome Treatments
Compartment Syndrome Treatments continued...
Most people with acute compartment syndrome require immediate surgery to reduce the compartment pressure. A surgeon makes long incisions through the skin and the fascia layer underneath (fasciotomy), releasing excessive pressure.
Other supportive treatments include:
- Keeping the body part below the level of the heart (to improve blood flow into the compartment)
- Giving oxygen through the nose or mouth
- Giving fluids intravenously
- Taking pain medications
Chronic compartment syndrome can first be treated by avoiding the activity that caused it and with stretching and physical therapy exercises. Surgery is not as urgent in chronic or exertional compartment syndrome, but it may be required to relieve pressure.
Abdominal compartment syndrome treatments include life support measures like mechanical ventilation, medicines to support blood pressure (vasopressors), and kidney replacement therapies (such as dialysis). Surgery to open the abdomen in order to reduce the compartment syndrome pressures may be necessary. The best time to perform surgery in people with abdominal compartment syndrome is often not clear. Surgery for abdominal compartment syndrome may be lifesaving, but can also cause complications.
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