Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Detailed Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviation List
- 1 Endothelium
- 2 Vascular smooth muscle structure and function
- 3 Atherosclerosis
- 4 Mechanisms of plaque rupture
- 5 Current and emerging therapies in atheroprotection
- 6 Molecular approaches to revascularisation in peripheral vascular disease
- 7 Biology of restenosis and targets for intervention
- 8 Vascular arterial haemodynamics
- 9 Physiological Haemostasis
- 10 Hypercoagulable States
- 11 Platelets in the pathogenesis of vascular disease and their role as a therapeutic target
- 12 Pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms
- 13 Pharmacological treatment of aneurysms
- 14 Pathophysiology of Aortic dissection and connective tissue disorders
- 15 Biomarkers in vascular disease
- 16 Pathophysiology and principles of management of vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon
- 17 SIRS, sepsis and multiorgan failure
- 18 Pathophysiology of reperfusion injury
- 19 Compartment syndromes
- 20 Pathophysiology of pain
- 21 Post-amputation pain
- 22 Treatment of neuropathic pain
- 23 Principles of wound healing
- 24 Pathophysiology and principles of varicose veins
- 25 Chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulceration: Principles and vascular biology
- 26 Pathophysiology and principles of management of the diabetic foot
- 27 Lymphoedema – Principles, genetics and pathophysiology
- 28 Graft materials past and future
- 29 Pathophysiology of vascular graft infections
- Index
19 - Compartment syndromes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Detailed Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviation List
- 1 Endothelium
- 2 Vascular smooth muscle structure and function
- 3 Atherosclerosis
- 4 Mechanisms of plaque rupture
- 5 Current and emerging therapies in atheroprotection
- 6 Molecular approaches to revascularisation in peripheral vascular disease
- 7 Biology of restenosis and targets for intervention
- 8 Vascular arterial haemodynamics
- 9 Physiological Haemostasis
- 10 Hypercoagulable States
- 11 Platelets in the pathogenesis of vascular disease and their role as a therapeutic target
- 12 Pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms
- 13 Pharmacological treatment of aneurysms
- 14 Pathophysiology of Aortic dissection and connective tissue disorders
- 15 Biomarkers in vascular disease
- 16 Pathophysiology and principles of management of vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon
- 17 SIRS, sepsis and multiorgan failure
- 18 Pathophysiology of reperfusion injury
- 19 Compartment syndromes
- 20 Pathophysiology of pain
- 21 Post-amputation pain
- 22 Treatment of neuropathic pain
- 23 Principles of wound healing
- 24 Pathophysiology and principles of varicose veins
- 25 Chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulceration: Principles and vascular biology
- 26 Pathophysiology and principles of management of the diabetic foot
- 27 Lymphoedema – Principles, genetics and pathophysiology
- 28 Graft materials past and future
- 29 Pathophysiology of vascular graft infections
- Index
Summary
DEFINITION
Compartment syndrome is a clinical and pathological syndrome where the pressure within an anatomical tissue compartment rises above the normal physiological value for that compartment and detrimentally alters the function of the tissues either temporarily or permanently. Acute compartment syndromes affecting the abdominal cavity and the fascial compartments of the limbs are those encountered in vascular surgery.
ACUTE LIMB COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
The importance of acute limb compartment syndrome (LCS) is that, if left untreated, it results in rhabdomyolysis with resultant release of potassium, myoglobin and other toxins into the systemic circulation, which can lead to renal and/or multi-organ failure. The mortality of acute renal failure and multi-organ failure is high. These patients require critical care which may involve dialysis and other organ support. Untreated LCS often necessitates amputation to prevent further acute systemic deterioration. If the immediate insult is survived without the need for amputation a permanently disabling ischaemic contracture may result.
LCS arises due to the anatomical arrangement of muscles surrounded by restrictive, inelastic osteofascial envelopes. Increased pressure within these fascial compartments can occur as a result of extrinsic compression such as that from plaster casts or bandages, or increased volume of the contents of the compartment. The volume within the compartment can be increased as a result of enlargement of those tissues contained within the compartment (e.g.muscle oedema) or due to the presence of a pathological space-occupying mass (such as a haematoma or abscess).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Mechanisms of Vascular DiseaseA Reference Book for Vascular Specialists, pp. 351 - 374Publisher: The University of Adelaide PressPrint publication year: 2011