OBJECTIVE: To study pressure changes of the abdominal compartment during abdominoplasty in healthy women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of 14 women between 30 and 57 years old, who underwent abdominoplasty for aesthetic purposes wer included in this study. All patients were free of any associated medical disorder with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2. The surgical procedure consisted of the plication of internal borders of the abdominal anterior rectal muscles with non absorbable sutures. Lipectomies were performed according to the flap shape and were sutured in two planes. Abdominal pressure was indirectly measured through the urinary bladder (Kron's technique). before the surgical procedure, after the plication of the aponeurotic muscle plane and after the adipocutaneous flap closure. A full written agreement was obtained from all patients before the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Average age was 39.5+/-8.06 years. The anterior rectal muscle diastasis was 6.2+/-2.17 cm and the plicature 8.0+/-2.0 cm. The basal pressure was 0.1+/-0.3 mm Hg, whereas, after the plication it increased to 4.9+/-0. 7 mm Hg. An intraabdominal pressure was of 6.56+/-1.1 mm Hg was found after the adipocutaneous closure the A significant statistical difference (p < or = 0.001) was found. We did not observe any pulmonary complication during the first 30 days following the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, the closure of the adipocutaneous flaps increased the intraabdominal pressure 31%, but no pulmonary complication was observed during the follow-up period. Since intraabdominal pressure above 10 mm Hg induces hemodynamic changes and lung restriction, the increment produced after the adipocutaneous closure should be considered to prevent morbidity associated to intraabdominal hypertension.
OBJECTIVE: To study pressure changes of the abdominal compartment during abdominoplasty in healthy women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of 14 women between 30 and 57 years old, who underwent abdominoplasty for aesthetic purposes wer included in this study. All patients were free of any associated medical disorder with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2. The surgical procedure consisted of the plication of internal borders of the abdominal anterior rectal muscles with non absorbable sutures. Lipectomies were performed according to the flap shape and were sutured in two planes. Abdominal pressure was indirectly measured through the urinary bladder (Kron's technique). before the surgical procedure, after the plication of the aponeurotic muscle plane and after the adipocutaneous flap closure. A full written agreement was obtained from all patients before the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Average age was 39.5+/-8.06 years. The anterior rectal muscle diastasis was 6.2+/-2.17 cm and the plicature 8.0+/-2.0 cm. The basal pressure was 0.1+/-0.3 mm Hg, whereas, after the plication it increased to 4.9+/-0. 7 mm Hg. An intraabdominal pressure was of 6.56+/-1.1 mm Hg was found after the adipocutaneous closure the A significant statistical difference (p < or = 0.001) was found. We did not observe any pulmonary complication during the first 30 days following the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, the closure of the adipocutaneous flaps increased the intraabdominal pressure 31%, but no pulmonary complication was observed during the follow-up period. Since intraabdominal pressure above 10 mm Hg induces hemodynamic changes and lung restriction, the increment produced after the adipocutaneous closure should be considered to prevent morbidity associated to intraabdominal hypertension.