What delta pressure value indicates compartment syndrome?

What delta pressure value indicates compartment syndrome?

• A. Diastolic Minus Tissue Pressure < 30
• B. Systolic Minus Tissue Pressure < 30
• C. Diastolic Minus Tissue Pressure > 30
• D. Mean Arterial Pressure Minus Tissue Pressure < 30

Answer: (A)

Compartment syndrome develops when the pressure inside a closed muscular compartment cuts down on blood flow. The key idea is perfusion pressure: the pressure that actually drives blood into the tissues is determined by the arterial driving pressure minus the pressure inside the compartment. Using diastolic blood pressure in that calculation is important because diastole largely governs capillary perfusion. When diastolic pressure minus intracompartment pressure falls to about 30 mmHg or less, tissue perfusion becomes critically inadequate, signaling compartment syndrome and the need for urgent relief, usually by fasciotomy. The other calculations shown—subtracting tissue pressure from systolic or from mean arterial pressure—don’t reflect the standard perfusion threshold used to identify this condition.

Compartment syndrome develops when the pressure inside a closed muscular compartment cuts down on blood flow. The key idea is perfusion pressure: the pressure that actually drives blood into the tissues is determined by the arterial driving pressure minus the pressure inside the compartment. Using diastolic blood pressure in that calculation is important because diastole largely governs capillary perfusion. When diastolic pressure minus intracompartment pressure falls to about 30 mmHg or less, tissue perfusion becomes critically inadequate, signaling compartment syndrome and the need for urgent relief, usually by fasciotomy. The other calculations shown—subtracting tissue pressure from systolic or from mean arterial pressure—don’t reflect the standard perfusion threshold used to identify this condition.