The effect of different reference transducer positions on intra-abdominal pressure measurement: a multicenter analysis

Abstract

To investigate the effect of different reference transducer positions on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement. Three reference levels were studied: the symphysis pubis; the phlebostatic axis; and the midaxillary line at the level of the iliac crest. Prospective cohort study. The intensive care units of participating hospitals One hundred thirty-two critically ill patients at risk for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). In each patient, three sets of IAP measurements were obtained in the supine position, using the different reference levels. The IAP measurements obtained at the different reference levels were compared using a paired t-test and Bland-Altman statistics were calculated. IAP(phlebostatic) (9.9 +/- 4.67 mmHg) and IAP(pubis) (8.4 +/- 4.60 mmHg) were significantly lower that IAP(midax) (12.2 +/- 4.66 mmHg; p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The bias between the IAP(midax) and IAP(pubis) was 3.8 mmHg (95% CI 3.5-4.1) and 2.3 mmHg (95% CI 1.9-2.6) between the IAP(midax) and the IAP(phlebostatic). The precision was 3.03 and 3.40, respectively. In the supine position, IAP(midax) is higher than both IAP(phlebostatic) and IAP(pubis), differences found to be clinically significant; therefore, the symphysis pubis or phlebostatic axis reference lines are not interchangeable with the midaxillary level.