Determination of intra-abdominal pressure using a transurethral bladder catheter: clinical validation of the technique.

The determination of intra-abdominal pressures (IAP) may be useful in many clinical situations. The authors recently demonstrated in the canine model a close correlation between actual IAP and the bladder pressure measurements obtained from a transurethral catheter. The purpose of this study was to clinically validate this technique. The authors studied 16 patients, and compared IAP in three positions (supine, with compressions, and semi-erect) utilizing both direct intraperitoneal pressure monitoring and the pressure obtained with a transurethral bladder catheter. Their results demonstrated a linear relationship between the two methods described, with a mean r value of 0.95 in the supine and semi-erect positions, and 0.99 with abdominal compressions (P less than 0.0001). The authors conclude that transurethral monitoring of bladder pressure offers a safe, simple, and highly accurate method for evaluating IAP at the bedside. Studies evaluating the indication for its use in the operating room and intensive care settings appear warranted.