Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common digestive mesenchymal tumours, whose prognosis has been revolutionised by targeted therapies such as oral imatinib. Abdomen compartment syndrome (ACS) is associated with mortality superior to 50% in adults. ACS has never been reported to date in patients with GIST. Specific anticancer treatment in critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU) remains a matter of debate given the high mortality rate. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old woman with ACS related to a 40-cm huge GIST and multi-organ failure requiring mechanical ventilation, vasopressive support and haemodialysis. She was treated in emergency with imatinib via the naso-gastric tube (day 1), then at day 3 by decompressive laparotomy and "open abdomen" without any tumour removal. Imaging after 11 days imatinib showed objective tumour response. Because of improvement of multi-organ dysfunctions, the laparotomy was closed at day 14, and the resuscitation procedures were progressively stopped. After discharge from hospital, she survived nearly two years. This is the first case of successful treatment of cancer-associated ACS by targeted therapy and decompressive laparotomy. Imatinib in critically ill patients with GIST may be successful even in presence of multi-organ failure.