IntroductionIntra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a well-known phenomenon in critically ill patients. Effects of a moderately elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on lung mechanics are still not fully analyzed. Moreover, the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in elevated IAP is unclear.
MethodsWe investigated changes in lung mechanics and transformation in histological lung patterns using three different PEEP levels in eighteen deeply anesthetized pigs with an IAP of 10 mmHg. After establishing the intra-abdominal pressure, we randomized the animals into 3 groups. Each of n = 6 (Group A = PEEP 5, B = PEEP 10 and C = PEEP 15 cmH 2 O). Endexpiratory lung volume (EELV/kg body weight (bw)), pulmonary compliance (C stat ), driving pressure (ΔP) and transpulmonary pressure (ΔP L ) were measured for 6 hours. Additionally, the histological lung injury score was calculated.
ResultsComparing hours 0 and 6 in group A, there was a decrease of EELV/kg (27±2 vs. 16±1 ml/ kg; p<0.05) and of C stat (42±2 vs. 27±1 ml/cmH 2 O; p<0.05) and an increase of ΔP (11±0 vs. 17±1 cmH 2 O; p<0.05) and ΔP L (6±0 vs. 10±1 cmH 2 O; p<0.05). In group B, there was no significant change in EELV/kg (27±3 vs. 24±3 ml/kg), but a decrease in C stat (42±3 vs. 32±1 ml/ cmH 2 0; p<0.05) and an increase in ΔP (11±1 vs. 15±1 cmH 2 O; p<0.05) and ΔP L (5±1 vs. 7 ±0 cmH 2 O; p<0.05). In group C, there were no significant changes in EELV/kg (27±2 vs. 29 ±3 ml/kg), ΔP (10±1 vs. 12±1 cmH 2 O) and ΔP L (5±1 vs. 7±1 cmH 2 O), but a significant PLOS ONE PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230830 April 15, 2020 1 / 12 OPEN ACCESS Citation: Fiedler MO, Deutsch BL, Simeliunas E, Diktanaite D, Harms A, Brune M, et al. (2020) Effect of moderate elevated intra-abdominal pressure on lung mechanics and histological lung injury at different positive end-expiratory pressures. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0230830. https://doi.org/10.