Table 2 Risk factors for IAH/ACS as proposed by the WSACS (adapted from [24])

1. Diminished abdominal wall compliance

Mechanical ventilation, especially fighting with the ventilator and use of accessory respiratory muscles

Use of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) or the presence of auto-PEEP

Basal pleuropneumonia

High body mass index

Pneumoperitoneum

Abdominal (vascular) surgery, especially with tight abdominal closures

Pneumatic anti-shock garments

Prone and other body positioning

Abdominal wall bleeding or rectus sheath hematomas

Correction of large hernias, gastroschisis or omphalocele

Burns with abdominal eschars

2. Increased intra-luminal contents

Gastroparesis/gastric distension/ileus/colonic pseudo-obstruction

Abdominal tumor

Retroperitoneal/abdominal wall hematoma

3. Increased intra-abdominal contents

Liver dysfunction with ascites

Abdominal infection (pancreatitis, peritonitis, abscess, etc.)

Hemoperitoneum/pneumoperitoneum

Acidosis (pH below 7.2)

4. Capillary leak

Hypothermia (core temperature below 33°C)

Polytransfusion/trauma (> 10 units of packed red cells/24 h

Coagulopathy (platelet count below 5,000/mm³, an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) more than 2 times normal, a prothrombin time (PTT) below 50%, or an international standardized ration (INR) more than 1.5)

Sepsis (as defined by the American-European Consensus Conference definitions)

Bacteremia

Massive fluid resuscitation (> 5 l of colloid or crystalloid/24 h with capillary leak and positive fluid balance)

Major burns