Compartment Pressure of the Rectus Sheath Accurately Reflects Intra-Abdominal Pressure in a Porcine Model

BackgroundTo investigate whether the compartment pressure of the rectus sheath (CPRS) reflects the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) under various conditions of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in a pig model.MethodsDesign: Prospective experimental study with in vivo pressure measurements. Setting: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland. Animals: Seven domestic male pigs (body weight 34.8 ± 2.5kg). Interventions: Stepwise increase and decrease of IAP by means of CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Continuous direct measurement of the IAP and correspondent indirect IAP measurement techniques including analysis of intravesical pressure (IVP), femoral vein pressure (FVP), and CPRS.ResultsBland-Altman analysis comparing direct IAP measurement with correspondent CPRS showed good agreement for IAP between 12mm Hg and 30mm Hg (bias −0.5mm Hg, lower and upper limits of agreement (LLA/ULA) −3.5/2.5mm Hg). FVP (bias −0.3mm Hg, LLA/ULA −2.3/1.6mm Hg) and IVP (bias 0.4mm Hg, LLA/ULA −2.1/2.9mm Hg) demonstrated similar results compared with direct IAP measurement. Agreement was worse for all indirect IAP measurement techniques for IAP < 12mm Hg.ConclusionsCPRS accurately reflects IAP for IAP ≥ 12mm Hg. Accuracy is similar to established indirect IAP measurement techniques.