Determination of normal intra-abdominal pressure using urinary bladder catheterization in clinically healthy cats.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a reference interval for intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measured by urinary bladder catheterization in normal cats and determine if IAP is affected by observer variation, volume of saline instillation before measurement, or subject variables of gender, positioning, body condition score, and sedation.


METHODS
Prospective experimental study.


METHODS
Private referral center.


METHODS
Twenty healthy adult cats.


METHODS
Sedation with butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol for catheterization of the urinary bladder and measurement of IAP.


RESULTS
A 5-Fr red rubber urinary catheter was placed under sedation, and IAP was determined using a water manometer with the cats in right lateral and sternal recumbency. Three readings were taken in each position by 2 observers. The cats were allowed to recover with the urinary catheter in place, and IAP was measured in each cat while they were awake in right lateral and sternal recumbency.


CONCLUSIONS
In this population of clinically healthy cats, median (interquartile range) IAP taken over all measurements was 7.00 cm H(2)O (5.23-8.83 cm H(2)O). There was no statistical difference between observers or subject gender. Factors associated with a statistically significant increase in IAP were right lateral compared with sternal recumbency (P=0.002), being awake compared with sedated (P<0.001), having a higher body condition score (P=0.01 and 0.001), instillation of a higher volume of saline into the bladder for measurement (P<0.001), and struggling during awake measurements (P<0.001).
Rader
Rebecca A
RA
Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, East Greenwich, RI 02818, USA. rAr_18@yahoo.com
Johnson
Justine A
JA
D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000662:veterinary; D023421:Models, Animal; D015588:Observer Variation; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
D012965:Sodium Chloride