title: [Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in the intensive care unit: the opinion of the critical care physicians].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The adverse effects of intra-abdominal hypertension are known for many years. Only recently proper attention has been given to routine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring. There is evidence that a quarter of intensive care units (ICU) do not measure IAP, due to a lack of knowledge of its importance or difficulty in results interpretation. The aim of this study is investigate the knowledge of ICU physicians about abdominal compartimental syndrome and its management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire with 12 questions about this issue was mailed to ICU physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current knowledge of the international definitions of ACS does not seem to be linked to the number of years of medical practice, but was associated with the time spent working on intensive care. Although most physicians are aware of the existence of ACS, less than half know the present international definitions. The IAP monitoring is performed in patients at risk for ACS, by means of the intravesical filling with 25 to 100 mL of liquids, in intervals varying from of 4 to 8 hours. There was no consensus on the value of IAP values (with or without organ dysfunctions) for the clinical or surgical treatments of ACS in this survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge of ACS is satisfactory when we consider only physicians that devote most of their time to ICU work. However, it is necessary to improve education and knowledge of most intensive care physicians regarding the presence and severity of intra-abdominal hypertension in Rio de Janeiro.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Quinta DOr, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: André M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Japiassú
authors.affiliation: Hospital Quinta DOr, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Haroldo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Quinta DOr, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Niterói, Niterói, RJ.
authors.forename: Paulo César P
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Hospital Quinta DOr, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lannes
authors.affiliation: Hospital Evangélico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Ricardo I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Analucia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Casa de Saúde São José, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Gustavo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Jorge I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Salluh