Abstract
BACKGROUND: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is a pathological condition that results from an increase in pressure within the abdomen associated with organ failure. It can be acute or chronic, primary or secondary. ACS poses a serious diagnostic challenge for physicians as the clinical presentation is varied and can mimic other medical pathologies. To prevent a multi-organ failure and ultimately death due to this disease, the World Society of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) suggested clinical criteria and biology tests to facilitate an early diagnosis of acute ACS. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of 61 year-old man diagnosed with chronic mesenteric ischemia that has been successfully treated by prosthetic bypass. The postoperative period was eventual, the patient presented complications corresponding essentially to a manifest acute ACS. The treatment consisted on abdominal decompression and resuscitation measures. CONCLUSIONS: An early diagnosis of ACS disease for an appropriate therapeutic initiation is mandatory to prevent its complications and save the patient's life prognosis.