Intra-abdominal pressure measurement using a modified nasogastric tube: Description and validation of a new technique

Objective: This study assessed the accuracy of an intragastric method of measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Design: Prospective sequential study with simultaneous paired measurement of gastric and urinary bladder pressures. Setting: Operating theatre, University Teaching Hospital. Patients: 9 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were studied. Interventions: Intraperitoneal pressures were monitored during peritoneal insufflation at laparoscopy up to a pressure of 20 mmHg. Measurements and results: Intra-abdominal pressure measurements were recorded simultaneously using a gastric balloon and urinary catheter. Gastric pressure may be up to 4 mmHg higher or 3 mmHg lower than urinary bladder pressure. Conclusions: Intra-abdominal pressure can be measured easily in this new fashion, allowing a continuous pressure trend to be obtained without interfering with urinary output estimation.