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🩺 Intra-abdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (IAH/ACS)

UseUse to grade measured intra-abdominal pressure, identify ACS, and compute abdominal perfusion pressure to gui…

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SourceKirkpatrick AW, et al. WSACS consensus definitions and guidelines. Intensive Care Med 2013.

Runs locally in your browser (no PHI uploaded). For licensed clinicians — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Stored on this device for revisit reminders

This-shift next steps

After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.

Score + version; reference only — not a substitute for care · no HIS write

Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.

Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Clinical takeaway

IAP must be measured correctly (bladder manometry, supine, end-expiration, zeroed at the mid-axillary line) or the grade is meaningless (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).

When to use

Use to grade measured intra-abdominal pressure, identify ACS, and compute abdominal perfusion pressure to guide medical vs surgical management.

How it works

IAH = sustained IAP ≥ 12 mmHg, graded I (12–15) / II (16–20) / III (21–25) / IV (> 25); ACS = sustained IAP > 20 with new-onset organ dysfunction. APP = MAP − IAP.

Key points

  • IAP must be measured correctly (bladder manometry, supine, end-expiration, zeroed at the mid-axillary line) or the grade is meaningless (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
  • ACS is defined by organ dysfunction, not by an absolute pressure alone — progression rate and duration matter.
  • Refractory ACS is a surgical emergency requiring decompressive laparotomy after medical measures fail.

References

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

Intra-abdominal pressure IAP (bladder manometry, supine, end-expiration)18 mmHg
Mean arterial pressure MAP (for APP, optional)75 mmHg
New-onset organ dysfunction/failureNo

→IAH gradeIAH grade II (16–20)

  • Grade:IAH grade II (16–20)
  • Abdominal perfusion pressure APP:APP = MAP − IAP = 75 − 18 = 57 mmHg
  • Management direction:IAH: monitor IAP every 4–8 h; medical lowering of abdominal pressure (gastric decompression, drainage, improving abdominal-wall compliance, limiting over-resuscitation, optimizing APP), dynamically reassess organ function
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the limits and cautions when using Intra-abdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (IAH/ACS)?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
Does Intra-abdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (IAH/ACS) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Intra-abdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (IAH/ACS) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Intra-abdominal pressure IAP (bladder manometry, supine, end-expiration) 18 mmHg, Mean arterial pressure MAP (for APP, optional) 75 mmHg, New-onset organ dysfunction/failure No → Result: IAH grade IAH grade II (16–20)(Grade: IAH grade II (16–20), Abdominal perfusion pressure APP: APP = MAP − IAP = 75 − 18 = 57 mmHg, Management direction: IAH: monitor IAP every 4–8 h; medical lowering of abdominal pressure (gastric decompression, drainage, improving abdominal-wall compliance, limiting over-resuscitation, optimizing APP), dynamically reassess organ function)
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