Prediction of compartment syndrome based on analysis of biochemical parameters.

BACKGROUND

The possibility of predicting severe compartment syndrome using simple biochemical parameters was evaluated in a single-center study of 55 patients who presented with acute femoral embolism and who were treated with open surgical embolectomy.

METHODS

Parameters related to tissue damage and oxidative metabolism (i.e., lactate, bilirubin, myoglobin, uric acid, glucose, and fibrinogen) were monitored in ipsilateral femoral vein blood.

RESULTS

Several statistically significant predictors of relevant compartment syndrome after surgical reperfusion were found, including lactate, uric acid, transcutaneous oxygen pressure, bilirubin, intrafascial pressure, and serum myoglobin. Glycemia and serum albumin did not significantly change over time.

CONCLUSIONS

The lactate concentration in femoral vein blood sampled during surgical embolectomy can be used for the stratification of additional postoperative risk of clinically significant compartment syndrome complicating reperfusion after acute embolism of the femoral artery.