Measurement of compartment pressure of the rectus sheath during intra-abdominal hypertension in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the compartment pressure of the rectus sheath (CPRS) reflects the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) under various conditions of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH).


METHODS
Prospective experimental study with in vivo pressure measurements at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Stepwise increase and decrease in IAP with continuous measurement of the correspondent CPRS.


RESULTS
Physiological IAP (2 mmHg) and CPRS (6 mmHg) showed a statistically significant difference. Stepwise elevation in IAP was associated with a simultaneous increase in CPRS. Accordingly, stepwise decompression of IAP resulted in a stepwise decrease in CPRS. Under both conditions Bland-Altman analysis comparing IAP to correspondent CPRS showed a very good agreement for IAP at or above 12 mmHg. In addition, closure of the overlaying subcutaneous tissue and skin did not affect CPRS or its correlation with IAP.


CONCLUSIONS
CPRS accurately reflects IAP for IAP of 12 mmHg or higher. Thus CPRS measurements may represent a novel approach for diagnosis and monitoring of IAH.
Meier
Christoph
C
University Hospital, Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. christoph.meier@usz.ch
Schramm
René
R
Holstein
Joerg H
JH
Seifert
Burkhardt
B
Trentz
Otmar
O
Menger
Michael D
MD
D000005:Abdomen / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000503:physiopathology*