title: Intra-abdominal pressure measurements in term pregnancy and postpartum: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and to evaluate the reproducibility of IAP-measurements using the Foley Manometer Low Volume (FMLV) in term uncomplicated pregnancies before and after caesarean section (CS), relative to two different reference points and to non-pregnant values.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary level referral center for feto-maternal medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Term uncomplicated pregnant women as the case-group and non-pregnant patients undergoing a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) as control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  IAP was measured in 23 term pregnant patients, before and after CS and in 27 women immediately after and 1 day after LAVH. The midaxillary line was used as zero-reference (IAPMAL) in all patients and in 13 CS and 13 LAVH patients, the symphysis pubis (IAPSP) was evaluated as additional zero-reference. Intraobserver correlation (ICC) was calculated for each zero-reference. Paired student's t-tests were performed to compare IAP values and Pearson's correlation was used to assess correlations between IAP and gestational variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICC before and after surgery, IAP before and after CS, IAP after CS and LAVH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICC for IAPMAL before CS was lower than after (0.71 versus 0.87). Both mean IAPMAL and IAPSP were significantly higher before CS than after: 14.0±2.6 mmHg versus 9.8±3.0 mmHg (p<0.0001) and 8.2±2.5 mmHg versus 3.5±1.9 mmHg (p = 0.010), respectively. After CS, IAP was not different from values measured in the LAVH-group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IAP-measurements using FMLV is reproducible in pregnant women. Before CS, IAP is increased in the range of intra-abdominal hypertension for non-pregnant individuals. IAP significantly decreases to normal values after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anneleen S E
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Staelens
authors.affiliation: Dept. Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Cauwelaert
authors.affiliation: Dept. Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomsin
authors.affiliation: Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tinne
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mesens
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Intensive Care, Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen, ZNA Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Manu L N
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Malbrain
authors.affiliation: Dept. Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gyselaers
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D059325:Intra-Abdominal Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy