Pretorius, Jan P.Liebenberg, C.Piek, D.Smith, M.2011-03-302011-03-302010Pretorius, JP, Liebenberg, C, Piek, D, Smith M 2010, 'The open abdomen: why and when should the abdomen be left open? (Part 1 of 3)', Wound Healing Southern Africa, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 19-23. [http://www.woundhealingsa.co.za/index.php/WHSA]1998-8885http://hdl.handle.net/2263/16158Intra-abdominal hypertension, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and poly-compartment syndrome are serious clinical problems. The key is early recognition of at risk patients so that preventative measures may be implemented. The concepts of controlled fluid resuscitation, surveillance and prophylactic operative decompression with temporary abdominal closure (TAC) are central to prevention of the events leading to multiple organ dysfunction. Where ACS develops, therapeutic operative decompression and TAC is the management of choice.enThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 South Africa LicenseIntra-abdominal hypertensionAbdominal compartment syndromePolycompartment syndromeMultiple organ dysfunctionMonitoring intra-abdominal pressureCritical care medicineAbdomen -- SurgeryArticle