1. The document discusses various surgical issues that may arise in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, including airway complications requiring procedures like tracheostomy, pulmonary issues like pneumothorax requiring chest tubes, cardiac tamponade requiring pericardial drainage, and abdominal issues like bowel obstruction. 2. Case studies are presented of patients with increased intra-abdominal pressures from hemorrhage and ileus that require decompression through laparotomy to treat abdominal compartment syndrome. 3. Guidelines are provided for management of issues like compartment syndrome through early diagnosis and fasciotomy if pressures are elevated.

1. N.K. Durrani, MD M. McCann, DO M.M. Brandt, MD, FACS, FCCM P. Patton, MD, FACS H.M. Horst, MD, FACS, FCCM I. Rubinfeld, MD Dept. of Trauma Surgery Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Surgical Issues in Critical Care Medicine