Virtual Patient Case: Acute Care

Online Course Delivery: All courses are delivered through the General Surgery Learning and Resource Centre (LRC). If you do not already have an account associated with this email, we will contact you to set up your LRC account.

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Credit Info: 0.5 Learning Hours — 1.5 Section 3 MOC Credits

• Pancreatitis can result in clinically significant intra-abdominal hypertension
• Intra-abdominal hypertension can negatively impact a variety of organ systems including lungs and kidneys
• There is a staged approach to manage increased abdominal pressure including medical and surgical interventions
• Although there are many strategies to manage the open abdomen they should meet the same common clinical goals
• Once the intra-abdominal hypertension has resolved the goal should be primary fascial closure

By the end of this case, you should be able to:

• Explain the impact that intra-abdominal hypertension has in the setting of necrotizing pancreatitis
• Measure intra-abdominal hypertension
• Describe the treatment options for intra-abdominal hypertension
• Describe role of decompressive laparostomy in the setting of abdominal compartment syndrome
• List the goals of temporary abdominal closure
• Review options to facilitate primary abdominal closure

Case Author: Sam Minor MD, FRCSC, FACS
On behalf of the Canadian Collaborative on Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS)

Case Reviewer: CANUCS Group

Virtual Patient Case Developers: David Fleiszer MDCM, Nancy Posel PhD

Case Audience: General Surgeons, General Surgery Residents and Fellows