Compartment syndrome in the critically injured following massive resuscitation: case reports.

Compartment syndrome of the extremities is usually associated with locally mediated events such as ischemia or injury. Three cases are presented of patients who did not sustain direct extremity trauma, but who developed compartment syndrome following massive fluid resuscitation. Global ischemia/reperfusion may be responsible for the observed morbidity. Patients undergoing large volume resuscitation should be closely monitored for this entity.