Subcutaneous endoscopic fasciotomy in a porcine model of abdominal compartment syndrome: A feasibility study

Purpose: Treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) involves abdominal decompression via a laparotomy, which can result in significant wound-related morbidity. Our aim was to determine if subcutaneous endoscopic abdominal fasciotomy in a porcine model of ACS is feasible and what effect it may have on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow. Materials and Methods: A total of 6 female pigs weighing 50 kg each were used for the study. Each animal underwent placement of an arterial line, pulmonary artery catheter, SMA blood flow probe, IAP catheter, and intra-abdominal saline infusion line. After endoscopic dissection of a subcutaneous pocket overlying the rectus muscles, saline was infused into the abdomen to a pressure of 40 mm Hg. Physiologic parameters were measured before and after bilateral endoscopic anterior rectus fasciotomies were performed, and analyzed with a paired t-test. Results: Mean subcutaneous dissection time was 42.5 +/- 11.3 minutes, and mean fasciotomy time was 5.5 +/- 2.3 minutes. There were no significant changes in heart rate, cardiac output, pO(2), or pH during the experiment. IAP increased exponentially as fluid was instilled into the abdomen. SMA blood flow decreased reliably and linearly with increasing IAP. Mean baseline IAP was 4.0 +/- 1.7 mm Hg. IAP decreased from 37 nun Hg to 25 mm Hg after fasciotomy (P < 0.001). Mean baseline SMA blood flow was 629 +/- 164 mL/min. SMA blood flow improved from 265 mL/min to 389 mL/min after fasciotomy (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Subcutaneous endoscopic abdominal fasciotomy is feasible and appears to lower IAP and raise SMA blood flow in a porcine model of ACS.