BACKGROUND: Current assumptions rely on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) being uniform across the abdominal cavity. The abdominal contents are, however, a heterogeneous mix of solid, liquid and gas, and pressure transmission may not be uniform. The current study examines the upper and lower IAP following liver transplantation. METHODS: IAP was measured directly via intra-peritoneal catheters placed at the liver and outside the bladder. Compartmental pressure data were recorded at 10-min intervals for up to 72 h following surgery, and the effect of intermittent posture change on compartmental pressures was also studied. Pelvic intra-peritoneal pressure was compared to intra-bladder pressure measured via a FoleyManometer. RESULTS: A significant variation in upper and lower IAP of 18% was observed with a range of differences of 0 to 16 mmHg. A sustained difference in inter-compartmental pressure of 4 mmHg or more was present for 23% of the study time. Head-up positioning at 30° provided a protective effect on upper intra-abdominal pressure, resulting in a significant reduction in all patients. There was excellent agreement between intra-bladder and pelvic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A clinically significant variation in inter-compartmental pressure exists following liver transplantation, which can be manipulated by changes to body position. The existence of regional pressure differences suggests that IAP monitoring at the bladder alone may under-diagnose intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome in these patients. The upper and lower abdomen may need to be considered as separate entities in certain conditions.
BACKGROUND: Current assumptions rely on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) being uniform across the abdominal cavity. The abdominal contents are, however, a heterogeneous mix of solid, liquid and gas, and pressure transmission may not be uniform. The current study examines the upper and lower IAP following liver transplantation. METHODS: IAP was measured directly via intra-peritoneal catheters placed at the liver and outside the bladder. Compartmental pressure data were recorded at 10-min intervals for up to 72 h following surgery, and the effect of intermittent posture change on compartmental pressures was also studied. Pelvic intra-peritoneal pressure was compared to intra-bladder pressure measured via a FoleyManometer. RESULTS: A significant variation in upper and lower IAP of 18% was observed with a range of differences of 0 to 16 mmHg. A sustained difference in inter-compartmental pressure of 4 mmHg or more was present for 23% of the study time. Head-up positioning at 30° provided a protective effect on upper intra-abdominal pressure, resulting in a significant reduction in all patients. There was excellent agreement between intra-bladder and pelvic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A clinically significant variation in inter-compartmental pressure exists following liver transplantation, which can be manipulated by changes to body position. The existence of regional pressure differences suggests that IAP monitoring at the bladder alone may under-diagnose intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome in these patients. The upper and lower abdomen may need to be considered as separate entities in certain conditions.
Authors: Alexander Schachtrupp; Dietrich Henzler; Sandra Orfao; Werner Schaefer; Robert Schwab; Peter Becker; Volker Schumpelick Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 7.598
Authors: Manu L N G Malbrain; Davide Chiumello; Paolo Pelosi; David Bihari; Richard Innes; V Marco Ranieri; Monica Del Turco; Alexander Wilmer; Nicola Brienza; Vincenzo Malcangi; Jonathan Cohen; Andre Japiassu; Bart L De Keulenaer; Ronny Daelemans; Luc Jacquet; Pierre-François Laterre; Günther Frank; Paulo de Souza; Bruno Cesana; Luciano Gattinoni Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 7.598
Authors: Konstantin M Gaidukov; Elena N Raibuzhis; Ayyaz Hussain; Alexey Y Teterin; Alexey A Smetkin; Vsevolod V Kuzkov; Manu Lng Malbrain; Mikhail Y Kirov Journal: World J Crit Care Med Date: 2013-05-04