title: Different techniques to measure intra-abdominal pressure (IAP): time for a critical re-appraisal.
abstract: The diagnosis of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) or abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is heavily dependent on the reproducibility of the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement technique. Recent studies have shown that a clinical estimation of IAP by abdominal girth or by examiner's feel of the tenseness of the abdomen is far from accurate, with a sensitivity of around 40%. Consequently, the IAP needs to be measured with a more accurate, reproducible and reliable tool. The role of the intra-vesical pressure (IVP) as the gold standard for IAP has become a matter of debate. This review will focus on the previously described indirect IAP measurement techniques and will suggest new revised methods of IVP measurement less prone to error. Cost-effective manometry screening techniques will be discussed, as well as some options for the future with microchip transducers.
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, ACZA Campus Stuivenberg, Lange Beeldekensstraat 267, B-2060 Antwerp, Belgium. manu.malbrain@skynet.be
authors.forename: Manu L N G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Malbrain
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results