By

• Manu Malbrain, MD, PhD Director of ICU and High Care Burn Unit, ZNA Stuivenberg, Antwerp. He is an ESICM Chris Stoutenbeek Award winner and the founding President of The World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS).
• Jan De Waele, MD, PhD Senior Lecturer at Ghent University and an intensivist at Ghent University Hospital, Ghent. He is Chair of the Clinical Trials Working Group of the WSACS.

Despite increasing interest in intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) as causes of significant morbidity and mortality among the critically ill, unanswered questions cloud the understanding of the pathophysiology of these conditions: • Are IAH and ACS synonymous? • What are the ideal methods of measuring and lowering intra-abdominal pressure (IAP)? • When should we think of IAH? • Can IAH be prevented? • What level of IAP requires abdominal decompression? Written by two experts in critical care and IAP, Intra-Abdominal Hypertension is a distillation of the current literature and furthers the understanding of these complex critical conditions. Using a step-by-step approach and illustrative figures, this clinical handbook presents a concise overview of consensus definitions, measurement methods, organ assessment and treatment options. Intra-Abdominal Hypertension is essential reading for all members of the intensive care multidisciplinary team, including experienced and junior physicians, anesthetists and nurses.

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