Secondary extremity compartment syndrome after traumatic cardiac arrest

Abstract

The objective of this case report is to investigate the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and surgical management of secondary extremity compartment syndrome. This case-based review documents the development of secondary extremity compartment syndrome in the setting of high-volume fluid resuscitation for a hemorrhagic cardiac arrest complicated by a global ischemia-reperfusion injury. A 21-year-old male presented with traumatic, hemorrhagic cardiac arrest. Following a resuscitative thoracotomy, massive transfusion and return of spontaneous circulation, the patient underwent damage control surgery. Over the first 48 h following the injury, the patient developed progressive diffuse interstitial edema ultimately culminating in compartment syndrome of the remaining three uninjured extremities as well as both uninjured gluteal compartments. The patient underwent bilateral lower extremity, thigh, gluteal, and right upper extremity compartment fasciotomies, with the left lower extremity being the single, traumatically injured extremity. To our knowledge, this is the only case of secondary extremity compartment syndrome in which bilateral gluteal compartments and bilateral thigh compartments were involved in addition to the bilateral upper and right lower extremities. The goal of this case report is to examine the pathophysiology of the development of secondary extremity compartment syndrome, with an emphasis on early recognition and surgical intervention.