Intra-abdominal hypertension (defined as a sustained urinary bladder pressure > 12
mm Hg) may be an under-recognized problem in the ICU, especially in patients after
abdominal surgery or who have gone massive volume resuscitation with blood and/or fluids
(think hemorrhage, burns and sepsis). When high abdominal pressures ( > 20 mm Hg
sustained) cause organ failure and/or shock, it's called abdominal compartment
syndrome.