Risk Factors And Causes Of Compartment Syndrome

Sepsis

Sepsis can cause an affected individual to develop compartment syndrome. Sepsis occurs when an individual's body produces a severe response to an infection. Common precipitators of sepsis include infections that affect the digestive system, bladder, kidney, bloodstream, and lungs. The immune system has an extreme and unbalanced response to one of these infections and results in systemic inflammation that can cause damage to numerous organ systems around the patient's body. Sepsis is most commonly associated with compartment syndrome in an individual's abdomen. Swelling from widespread inflammation of the organs and tissues in the abdomen causes the flow of blood to become compromised in the smallest blood vessels. This malfunction leads to a buildup of fluid in the interstitial space due to fluid exudation from blood vessels. As displaced fluid accumulates in the compartment containing all of the abdominal organs, the pressure against the fascia increases and compartment syndrome is the result.