Intra-abdominal Hypertension Research Articles

Comparative characteristics of separation plastics of the anterior abdominal wall in the prevention of compartment syndrome in herniology

Research Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of separation plastic in reducing intra-abdominal hypertension in midline ventral hernia surgery in an experimental setting. Materials and Methods. Research Subjects: 15 pigs weighing 30-35 kg with an original model of midline ventral hernia. In the acute experiment, intra-abdominal hypertension was created at 40 mmHg and the aponeurosis tension was set at 3.6 N. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the impact of separation plastics of the anterior abdominal wall by Ramirez, Carbonell, and Novitsky on intra-abdominal pressure and central hemodynamics. Results: A direct correlation was found between intra-abdominal pressure and aponeurosis tension. Ramirez separation plastic of the anterior abdominal wall reduced intra-abdominal pressure by 50.5±1.1%, Carbonell by 53.5±2.8%, and Novitsky by 59±3.3%. Conclusion: The original model of midline ventral hernia in the acute experiment can be used to study intra-abdominal hypertension and ways to reduce it. Separation plastics decrease intra-abdominal pressure, improve central hemodynamic parameters, and blood oxygen saturation. The most effective separation plastic of the anterior abdominal wall is the posterior component according to Novitsky.

The relationship between positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in mechanically ventilated patients: A prospective observational study.

Positive end-expiratory pressure is a crucial mechanical breathing parameter. Intra-abdominal hypertension is well defined as a sustained increase in the intra-abdominal pressure ≥12 mmHg. There are still controversies about mechanical ventilation's effect and use of positive end-expiratory pressure on intra-abdominal pressure. We aimed to delineate the relationship between positive end-expiratory pressure and intra-abdominal pressure in mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the intensive care units of a large tertiary hospital in Upper Egypt. This study was a prospective observational study. The study was conducted at a university hospital from October 2023 to February 2024. The enrolled adult patients were allocated into two groups based on their positive end-expiratory pressure: group I, low pressure (<8 cm H2O) and group II, high pressure (8-10 cm H2O). A total of 120 patients were enrolled, 60 patients in each group. The most commonly encountered diagnoses were pneumonia (32/120, 26.7%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (31/120, 25.8%), respectively. There was a significant difference between the intra-abdominal pressure mean values of the two patient groups, 18.9 ± 3.3 versus 24.4 ± 5.9 mmHg in the group of low versus high pressure (correlation value of .454, p < .001), respectively. There were highly significant correlations between intra-abdominal pressure categories and the patient groups (correlation value of .495, p < .001). There were 24 (40%) versus 0 (0%) patients of high pressure versus low pressure within the category IV group of intra-abdominal hypertension (>25 mmHg). We observed a significant relationship between positive end-expiratory pressure and intra-abdominal pressure in mechanically ventilated patients. The patient group with high pressure had higher mean values compared with the group with low pressure. The study highlights the importance of closely monitoring intra-abdominal pressure in mechanically ventilated patients who receive positive end-expiratory pressure. Further studies are warranted. The relationship between positive end-expiratory pressure and intra-abdominal pressure is an essential issue in daily critical care nursing clinical practice. Considering the occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction as a result of a non-detected increase in intra-abdominal pressure, critical care nurses should pay attention to measuring this pressure to maintain intra-abdominal pressures that are safe for mechanically ventilated and critically ill intensive care unit patients, thereby preventing these undue effects.

Systemic organoprotection with inhaled nitric oxide (literature review)

Sufficient levels of nitric oxide (NO) ensure adequate blood flow to all organs and tissues. Despite the contradictory data on the role of endogenous NO as an organоprotector, NO insufflation is a promising direction, which is supported by evidence of modeling the protective effect on the myocardium, kidneys, and liver with exogenous NO in experimental and clinical studies. The largest number of studies have been conducted on models of ischemia-reperfusion injury in cardiovascular surgery. There are very few studies in abdominal and other non-cardiac surgery and they are mostly experimental. This review describes possible ways of implementing the organоprotective effect of NO, however, the exact mechanism remains not fully understood. One of the main links in the development of abdominal organ injury is intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), which always accompanies laparoscopic surgeries and can last up to several hours. IAH causes ischemia of the kidneys and gastrointestinal mucosa with possible subsequent development of organ dysfunction. The degree of damage will depend not only on the duration of IAH but also on the patient’s premorbid background. The prognosis will be especially aggravated by the presence of atherosclerotic vascular lesions, which creates a preoperative background for hypoperfusion of visceral organs, which, due to the characteristics of vascularization, anatomical structure, and functioning, are very sensitive to the slightest disturbances in perfusion pressure and to the systemic inflammatory reaction, which will subsequently lead to an increase in vascular permeability, the formation of transcapillary leakage and interstitial edema, which is the beginning of organ dysfunction. Dysregulation of the mechanisms involved in NO production may be a link in the pathogenesis of the development of organ’s dysfunction, so maintaining adequate NO levels may be a target for therapy.

Abdominal perfusion pressure is critical for survival analysis in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension: mortality prediction using incomplete data.

Abdominal perfusion pressure (APP) is a salient feature in the design of a prognostic model for patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). However, incomplete data significantly limits the size of the beneficiary patient population in clinical practice. Using advanced artificial intelligence methods, we developed a robust mortality prediction model with APP from incomplete data. We retrospectively evaluated the patients with IAH from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Incomplete data were filled in using generative adversarial imputation nets (GAIN). Lastly, demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings were combined to build a 7-day mortality prediction model. We included 1354 patients in this study, of which 63 features were extracted. Data imputation with GAIN achieved the best performance. Patients with an APP< 60mmHg had significantly higher all-cause mortality within 7 to 90 days. The difference remained significant in long-term survival even after propensity score matching (PSM) eliminated other mortality risks between groups. Lastly, the built machine learning model for 7-day modality prediction achieved the best results with an AUC of 0.80 in patients with confirmed IAH outperforming the other four traditional clinical scoring systems. APP reduction is an important survival predictor affecting the survival prognosis of patients with IAH. We constructed a robust model to predict the 7-day mortality probability of patients with IAH, which is superior to the commonly used clinical scoring systems.

Increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure as One of the Links in the Pathogenesis of Secondary Diffuse Purulent Peritonitis

Aim: to present literature data on the importance of intra-abdominal hypertension in the pathogenesis of peritonitis. Key points. Secondary purulent peritonitis is a severe and fairly common form of abdominal infection with high mortality. According to statistics, hospitalization of patients with signs of local or diffuse peritonitis is more than 15 % among patients with acute surgical pathologies. One of the factors in the development of complications and an unfavorable prognosis for this disease is increased intra-abdominal pressure. To measure this indicator, a Foley catheter inserted into the bladder is used in medical practice. According to reference values, the optimal level of intra-abdominal pressure does not exceed 5 mmHg. A persistent increase in pressure of 12 mmHg and above indicates the development of intra-abdominal hypertension. An increase in the level of intra-abdominal pressure indicates the progression of the inflammatory destructive process in the abdominal cavity and contributes to the development of multiple organ failure with subsequent fatal outcome with untimely treatment. With an indicator exceeding 20 mmHg, there is a risk of developing abdominal compartment syndrome. This condition is characterized by increased pressure in two or more anatomical areas, which leads to decreased blood flow and subsequent tissue hypoxia. Intra-abdominal hypertension also increases the risk of developing postoperative peritonitis in patients who have undergone laparotomy. Conclusion. To predict the course of secondary diffuse purulent peritonitis, reduce the risk of complications and mortality, it is necessary to focus on measuring intra-abdominal pressure as a mandatory manipulation in surgical patients. Despite its general availability and ease of implementation, this technique allows assessing the severity of organ dysfunctions.

Optimizing Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Based on Intra-Abdominal Pressure in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a crucial component of mechanical ventilation to improve oxygenation in critically ill patients with respiratory failure. The interaction between abdominal and thoracic compartment pressures is known well. Especially in intra-abdominal hypertension, lower PEEP may cause atelectotrauma by repetitive opening and closing of alveoli. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of PEEP adjustment according to the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on oxygenation and clarify possible harms. Patients older than 18 were mechanically ventilated due to hypoxemic respiratory failure and had normal IAP (<15 mmHg) included in the study. Patients with severe cardiovascular dysfunction were excluded. The following PEEP levels were applied: PEEPzero of 0 cmH2O, PEEPIAP/2 = 50% of IAP, and PEEPIAP = 100% of IAP. After a 30-minute equilibration period, arterial blood gases and mean arterial pressures were measured. One hundred thirty-eight patients (mean age 66.5 ± 15.9, 56.5% male) enrolled on the study. The mean IAP was 9.8 ± 3.4. Seventy-nine percent of the patients' PaO2/FiO2 ratio was under 300 mmHg. Figure 1 shows the change in PaO2/FiO2 ratio, PaCO2, PPlato, and MAP of the patients according to the PEEP levels. Overall increases were detected in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P < 0.001) and Pplato (P < 0.001), while PaCO2 and MAP did not change after increasing PEEP gradually. Pairwise analyses revealed differences in PaO2/FiO2 between PEEPzero (186.4 [85.7-265.8]) and PEEPIAP/2 (207.7 [101.7-292.9]) (t = -0.77, P < 0.001), between baseline and PEEPIAP (236.1 [121.4-351.0]) (t = -1.7, P < 0.001), and between PEEPIAP/2 and PEEPIAP (t = -1.0, P < 0.001). Plato pressures were in the safe range (<30 cmH2O) at all three PEEP levels (PEEPzero = 12 [10-15], PEEPIAP/2 = 15 [13-18], PEEPIAP = 17 [14-22]). In patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and mechanically ventilated, PEEP adjustment according to the IAB improves oxygenation, especially in the settings of the limited source where other PEEP titration methods are absent.

Intra-abdominal pressure: a predictor of severity in acute pancreatitis

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a multisystem disease which has an unpredictable course. The major consequence of severe acute pancreatitis is usually intra-abdominal hypertension. So, abdominal compartment syndrome occurs with serve increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) with organ failure. If conservative measures fail, some early interventional procedures have to be performed to reduce mortality in those patients. Methods: The ethics committee clearance was obtained. The study included 50 patients who were admitted in our institution with acute pancreatitis (diagnosed based on clinical, radiological, biochemical parameters) from December 2022 to August 2023. Intravesical route was used to measure IAP and it was performed by bladder catheterization using a Foley's catheter which was then connected with a three-way stopcock, which further attached with a water manometer and on that same day APACHE scores was calculated, compared and analyzed. Results: IAP was &gt;25 cm H2O in 48% of patients and 28% of patients developed MODS and they did not survive. The mean IAP among the survivors was 13.56 cm H2O and in non-survivors it was 24.94 cm H2O. Correlation studies between IAP &amp; the clinical severity of acute pancreatitis was significant (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: IAP seems to be a simple, reliable and single mortality predictor and helps to assess organ failure in acute pancreatitis and it also well correlates with other pancreatic prognostic scores. It also serves as a selective prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis and found to have a direct correlation between IAP and clinical severity of acute pancreatitis.

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome. Literature Review

Intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome remain a challenging problem in abdominal surgery. Due to various etiological factors leading to increased intra-abdominal pressure (inflammatory, destructive processes, trauma, sepsis, postoperative complications, etc.), and the negative impact of increased IBP on the functions of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular systems, kidneys, central nervous system, timely diagnosis and treatment play an important role. Gradually elevated intra-abdominal pressure can cause persistent organ dysfunction and be potentially fatal. To date, the pathophysiological mechanisms, methods for determining intra-abdominal pressure, the frequency of its measurement, and methods of conservative and surgical treatment have been studied in sufficient detail. The paper presents a literature review on the problem of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome. The study considers issues of epidemiology, mortality rates, methods for measuring intra-abdominal pressure, including advanced innovative technologies. The authors present the basics of clinical diagnosis, the significance and informativity of additional biochemical blood tests, radiation methods, mainly computed tomography, and ultrasound examination. Advanced methods of conservative treatment are considered, which, when used early, significantly minimize target organ damage, organ dysfunction, and indications for emergency decompressive laparotomy. Finally, recommendations are given for the postoperative management of patients with an “open” abdomen, and for the optimal timing of laparostoma closure.

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in COVID-19: Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment

Introduction. New COVID-19 coronavirus infection negatively influenced the surgical service. Clinical recommendations for the treatment of surgical patients were adjusted to the new conditions of unfavorable epidemiologic conditions with reorientation to urgent minimally invasive surgical care. Therefore, the generally accepted diagnostic and treatment programs could not be applied due to the overwhelming admission of patients in extremely severe condition. Such programs embrace treatment and prevention of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome. Aim. To analyze the treatment results of patients with COVID-19 infection in covid hospitals, complicated by abdominal surgical pathology and associated with abdominal surgical disease, in terms of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pathological conditions leading to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Materials and methods. The study analyzed the treatment results of 1900 patients in covid hospitals with different surgical capabilities, where they were provided with diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive measures in order to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome, i.e. management of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome was performed according to the diagnostic and treatment program. Results and discussion. 67 patients (3.5%) in the clinical group developed an abdominal surgical complication, or covid infection was associated with an acute abdominal surgical disease. In case of indications for emergency surgery, surgical tactics consisted in minimally invasive techniques and regional anesthesia; a development of compartment syndrome was managed with emergency decompressive laparotomy. Conclusion. The implementation of the diagnostic and treatment program of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome management in the clinical group of COVID-patients enabled compartment syndrome to be prevented in 3.5% of patients and early decompressive laparotomy to be performed in 1.5% of patients in case of its development. The mortality associated with abdominal complications of COVID-19 comprised 1.3% in the clinical group.

Effect of Hydroxyethyl Starch (HES) versus 5% Albumin Solution on Intra-Abdominal Pressure in Severe Burn Patients: A Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract Introduction Massive burn patients are at high risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) as a complication of aggressive resuscitation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) versus 5% albumin solution on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in massive burn patients. Methods This was a single-center, prospective randomized clinical trial carried on at Ain Shams University (ASU) burn unit for 2 years. Where adult patients with burns 20 to 60 % of TBSA were equally randomized into HES group or albumin group. Results Fifty-two patients were equally randomized into 2 groups. There was no difference in age, sex, weight, type of burn, and TBSA between the two groups. The mean total resuscitation fluid volume in the first 48 hours was 213 ml/kg and 206.2 ml/kg for the HES group and the albumin group respectively (p = 0.674). IAP statistically was non-significantly higher in the HES group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups as regards the renal function tests. Conclusion Both HES and 5% albumin solution are effective and safe colloids for burn resuscitation. They partially have an equal effect on intra-abdominal pressure, renal involvement, and vital data stability in massive burn patients.

Increased intraluminal pressure in the small intestine as an important factor in the development of intra-abdominal hypertension in patients with diffuse secondary peritonitis: An observational prospective study

Increased intraluminal pressure in the small intestine as an important factor in the development of intra-abdominal hypertension in patients with diffuse secondary peritonitis: An observational prospective study

Revision of an Adult Burn Center's Resuscitation Guideline Leads to Lower Resuscitation Requirements.

In 2018, the institutional burn resuscitation guideline was updated to remove the use of high-dose ascorbic acid (HDAA) therapy, to lower 24-hour resuscitation fluid estimations from 4 to 2mL/kg/TBSA, and to optimize guidance around appropriate colloid resuscitation. This retrospective study compared the incidence of a composite safety outcome (acute kidney injury, or intra-abdominal hypertension requiring intervention) between the pre-guideline update to post-guideline update. Secondarily, 24-hour resuscitation volumes, hourly urine output, vasopressor use, and mechanical ventilation duration were compared as well. The composite safety outcome was similar between the 2 groups (40% vs 29%; p=0.27), but the post-group showed significantly lower 24-hour resuscitation volumes (3.74mL/kg/TBSA vs 2.94mL/kg/TBSA; p<0.01), as well as lower urine output (1.26mL/kg/hr vs 0.75mL/kg/hr; p<0.01). There was no difference between the groups with respect to vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation duration, or mortality. This study suggests that a simplified resuscitation protocol without HDAA, combined with a lower starting fluid rate led to significantly lower 24-hour resuscitation volumes without an increase in adverse safety events.

Should we perform decompressive laparotomy during severe acute pancreatitis with intra-abdominal hypertension below 25 mmHg: Only the gut knows.

We suggest that during severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with intra-abdominal hypertension, practitioners should consider decompressive laparotomy, even with intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) below 25 mmHg. Indeed, in this setting, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) may occur even with IAP below this cutoff and lead to transmural necrosis if abdominal perfusion pressure is not promptly restored. We report our experience of 18 critically ill patients with SAP having undergone decompressive laparotomy of which one third had NOMI while IAP was mostly below 25 mmHg.

Differential Effects of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and ARDS on Respiratory Mechanics in a Porcine Model.

Background and Objectives: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are common concerns in intensive care unit patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Although both conditions lead to impairment of global respiratory parameters, their underlying mechanisms differ substantially. Therefore, a separate assessment of the different respiratory compartments should reveal differences in respiratory mechanics. Materials and Methods: We prospectively investigated alterations in lung and chest wall mechanics in 18 mechanically ventilated pigs exposed to varying levels of intra-abdominal pressures (IAP) and ARDS. The animals were divided into three groups: group A (IAP 10 mmHg, no ARDS), B (IAP 20 mmHg, no ARDS), and C (IAP 10 mmHg, with ARDS). Following induction of IAP (by inflating an intra-abdominal balloon) and ARDS (by saline lung lavage and injurious ventilation), respiratory mechanics were monitored for six hours. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA to compare the alterations within each group. Results: After six hours of ventilation, end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) decreased across all groups, while airway and thoracic pressures increased. Significant differences were noted between group (B) and (C) regarding alterations in transpulmonary pressure (TPP) (2.7 ± 0.6 vs. 11.3 ± 2.1 cmH2O, p < 0.001), elastance of the lung (EL) (8.9 ± 1.9 vs. 29.9 ± 5.9 cmH2O/mL, p = 0.003), and elastance of the chest wall (ECW) (32.8 ± 3.2 vs. 4.4 ± 1.8 cmH2O/mL, p < 0.001). However, global respiratory parameters such as EELV/kg bodyweight (-6.1 ± 1.3 vs. -11.0 ± 2.5 mL/kg), driving pressure (12.5 ± 0.9 vs. 13.2 ± 2.3 cmH2O), and compliance of the respiratory system (-21.7 ± 2.8 vs. -19.5 ± 3.4 mL/cmH2O) did not show significant differences among the groups. Conclusions: Separate measurements of lung and chest wall mechanics in pigs with IAH or ARDS reveals significant differences in TPP, EL, and ECW, whereas global respiratory parameters do not differ significantly. Therefore, assessing the compartments of the respiratory system separately could aid in identifying the underlying cause of ARF.

Intra-abdominal hypertension in acute decompensated heart failure - an overlooked piece in the puzzle of diuretic resistance

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Wroclaw Medical University, Insitute of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw, Poland. Introduction Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is a frequently overlooked aspect in clinical assessment which can have a significant impact on organ dysfunction in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Purpose To investigate prevalence and dynamics of IAP in patients with ADHF and its impact on diuretic response. Methods 30 patients admitted for ADHF, class III or IV in New York Heart Association classification were enrolled into a prospective, observational pilot study. In every individual serial transurethral IAP measurements, blood and urine samples were taken upon admission, on the second and the third day of hospitalization. Results The study showed 63.3% prevalence of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) defined as IAP ≥ 12 mmHg upon admission, while only roughly 13% presented overt signs of abdominal congestion. Patients diagnosed with IAH upon admission had significantly poorer diuresis in the first day of hospitalization, despite receiving similar doses of loop diuretics (p = 0.038). Moreover, IAP was negatively correlated with urine output (p = 0.011) and positively correlated with urine osmolality (p = 0.033), while there was no relationship between IAP and natriuresis. There was a significant reduction of IAP among patients with IAH treated according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Conclusions The investigation revealed an exepctionally high prevalence of elevated IAP among patients hospitalized for ADHF and highlights the limitations of physical examination in assessing abdominal congestion, as most patients remain asymptomatic. The observed poorer diuresis in patients diagnosed with IAH and the established association between IAP and the reduced urinary output, despite achieving target levels of natriuresis, add another piece to the puzzle of understanding the phenomenon of diuretic resistance in ADHF and set directions for future studies.

An Analysis of the Impact of Intra-abdominal Pressure on Surgical Outcomes in Cases of Intestinal Obstruction: A Prospective Observational Study.

The decision and timing of surgical exploration of intestinal obstruction depend on the clinical findings and probable etiology of the symptoms. Patients with intestinal obstruction often have intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), which is associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes in patients with intestinal obstruction in relation to intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). The study was conducted on 50 patients with intestinal obstruction undergoing surgery. Preoperatively, IAP was measured in all the patients and was allocated into two groups based on the presence or absence of IAP. Patients were assessed for the postoperative length of hospital or ICU stay, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, and recovery following surgery. The patients with preoperative IAH had significantly longer postoperative stays, with a median stay of eight days in these patients compared to four days in patients without IAH (p=0.009). A significantly higher number of patients (24%) had gangrenous changes on the bowel wall (p=0.042) and fascial dehiscence (p=0.018) in the group associated with raised IAP. A total of 75% of patients who required ventilator support belonged to the raised IAP group. The mean IAP in patients admitted to the ICU was significantly higher than in patients not admitted to the ICU (p=0.027). Preoperative IAH in intestinal obstruction is a significant factor in predicting the possibility of bowel ischemia with gangrene, perforation, intra-abdominal sepsis, surgical site infections, and prolonged hospital stay. Early surgical exploration and abdominal decompression must be considered in such cases.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding intra-abdominal pressure monitoring among pediatric intensive care nurses: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and the training requirements of pediatric intensive care nurses regarding intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring, in order to provide a reference for the development of relevant training programs and operational procedures in clinical practice. MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 2023 to June 2023. A convenience sample was created by recruiting 212 pediatric intensive care nurses in eight hospitals in Zhejiang Province. A self-developed IAP monitoring KAP assessment tool was used for evaluation, which included knowledge (14 items), attitude (6 items), and practice (8 items), three dimensions, 28 items. ResultsThe overall KAP score was 60.73 ± 8.35; the knowledge score was 7.84 ± 2.35, with a scoring rate of 56.0%; the attitude score was 25.16 ± 3.23, with a scoring rate of 83.9%; and the practice score was 28.44 ± 6.46, with a scoring rate of 69.3%. Nurses wh-o have received IAP monitoring training have higher KAP score, knowledge score and practice score than those who have not received it (P < 0.05). Nurses aged ≤ 30 showed better knowledge of IAP monitoring than those aged > 30 (P < 0.05). Among the participants, 55.7% of the nurses believed the current knowledge was insufficient to perform IAP measurement effectively. Difficulty in identifying the high-risk population of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) (64.6%), unfamiliarity with the operation process of IAP measurement (55.6%), and unreasonable nurse-patient ratio allocation (52.8%) were the main obstacles for nurses to monitor IAP. ConclusionsPediatric intensive care nurses have a positive attitude towards IAP monitoring, but the knowledge level and practical behavior still need to be strengthened. In particular, the knowledge of published consensus definitions, measurement techniques, and frequency for IAP monitoring is inadequate. It is necessary to implement tailored IAP monitoring training based on their training needs and potential obstacles to promote the standardization and scientificity of IAP monitoring.

Are We Always Right? Evaluation of the Performance and Knowledge of the Passive Leg Raise Test in Detecting Volume Responsiveness in Critical Care Patients: A National German Survey.

Background: In hemodynamically unstable patients, the passive leg raise (PLR) test is recommended for use as a self-fluid challenge for predicting preload responsiveness. However, to interpret the hemodynamic effects and reliability of the PLR, the method of performing it is of the utmost importance. Our aim was to determine the current practice of the correct application and interpretation of the PLR in intensive care patients. Methods: After ethical approval, we designed a cross-sectional online survey with a short user-friendly online questionnaire. Using a random sample of 1903 hospitals in Germany, 182 hospitals with different levels of care were invited via an email containing a link to the questionnaire. The online survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022. All critical care physicians from different medical disciplines were surveyed. We evaluated the correct points of concern for the PLR, including indication, contraindication, choice of initial position, how to interpret and apply the changes in cardiac output, and the limitations of the PLR. Results: A total of 292 respondents participated in the online survey, and 283/292 (97%) of the respondents completed the full survey. In addition, 132/283 (47%) were consultants and 119/283 (42%) worked at a university medical center. The question about the performance of the PLR was answered correctly by 72/283 (25%) of the participants. The limitations of the PLR, such as intra-abdominal hypertension, were correctly selected by 150/283 (53%) of the participants. The correct effect size (increase in stroke volume ≥ 10%) was correctly identified by 217/283 (77%) of the participants. Conclusions: Our results suggest a considerable disparity between the contemporary practice of the correct application and interpretation of the PLR and the practice recommendations from recently published data at German ICUs.

Results of treatment of diffuse purulent peritonitis in children

BACKGROUND: Despite significant achievements in surgery and in antibiotic therapy, management of children with severe purulent complications of surgical diseases in the abdominal cavity remains an important issue. Due to the polyetiology of diffuse purulent peritonitis, sometimes not enough attention is paid to metabolism correction, especially in children. Optimization of comprehensive therapy in the diffuse purulent peritonitis promotes better outcomes in this group of patients. AIM: To assess results of the treatment of children with diffuse purulent peritonitis applying the optimized pathogenetic therapy which includes a differentiated approach to the preoperative preparation, active correction of dysmetabolic disorders in the postoperative period as well as selection of the criteria for abdominal cavity sanation bearing in mind the degree of intra-abdominal hypertension. METHODS: Outcomes of 339 patients, aged 1–14 years, with diffuse peritonitis of various etiology were analyzed. The patients were hospitalized to pediatric surgical departments in Samara in 2006–2022. The studied group included 237 children with diffuse purulent peritonitis who were prescribed the optimized comprehensive therapy. Control group included 102 children with diffuse purulent peritonitis who were prescribed traditional therapy according to the generally accepted standards. In the studied group, patients' therapeutic tactics included a therapeutic and diagnostic algorithm developed by the authors. Complex examination registered the dynamics of biochemical blood parameters: total protein, albumin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as indicators of endotoxicosis (C-reactive protein and procalcitonin). RESULTS: After studying the dynamics of transaminases, we concluded that in children with widespread peritonitis in the main group, despite the initial severity of endotoxicosis, there was a faster decrease in the level of liver enzymes, indicating a more effective restoration of cell membranes. The dynamics of the level of total protein and albumin revealed a faster recovery of protein-synthetic liver function in children of the main group, including antitoxic, which was reflected in the improvement of the general condition of patients and stabilization of hemostasis indicators, a decrease in the levels of acute phase proteins. The analysis of the results of the complex treatment of children with advanced peritonitis revealed a statistically significant decrease in the main group: the duration of stay of patients in the intensive care unit after surgery, the timing of infusion therapy in the postoperative period, as well as the duration of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Thus, less stay in the intensive care unit in the postoperative period, less terms of infusion therapy as well as less length of stay in children with diffuse peritonitis demonstrate better effectiveness of the proposed comprehensive management of children with the discussed pathology.

Application of bridging mesh repair in giant ventral incisional hernia.

Achieving ideal abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral incisional hernia has been a challenging for surgeons. This study aimed to verify the safety and efficacy of bridging repair by comparing it with primary fascial closure (PFC) repair in the treatment of giant ventral incisional hernia. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 92 patients with giant ventral incisional hernia who underwent mesh repair at our medical institution from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the bridging repair group with 40 patients in whom repair was completed using the bridging technique and the PFC group with 52 patients in whom primary fascial closure was achieved and all patients underwent mesh reinforcement during the operation. The main outcome measures were recurrence rate and morbidity, especially intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Follow-up time of both groups lasted at least 24months after surgery. After a median of 46months and 65months of follow-up, respectively, in the two groups, bridging repair did not increase the long-term recurrence rate (2.56%) in the larger defect area group compared to the PFC group (1.96%). There were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity, IAH, incidence of postoperative chronic pain, and sensory impairment of the abdominal wall between both groups. The application of bridging surgery in the treatment of complex giant ventral incisional hernias is safe and effective and does not significantly increase the postoperative recurrence rate.