The compartment syndrome is known in abdominal surgery, traumatology, neurosurgery. Basics of the syndrom are interfascial hypertension rising from hydrostatic and oncotic pressure changes. The authors suggest that the compartmet syndrome could be one of the reasons of wound healing failure after the oncologic neck surgery. The neck compartment is mentioned from the anatomical and physiological point of view. The pathophysiological aspects of neck compartment syndrome, the oncotic and hydrostatic pressure changes and the fluid, proteins and ions movements are clarified. Up the date literature overview and the possibilities of early neck compartment syndrome prevention and interfascial pressure monitoring are discussed.

        Key words: neck compartment syndrome, hydrostatic pressure, interfascial hypertension, microcirculation.