Low Transmission of Airway Pressures to the Abdomen in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With or Without Acute Respiratory Failure and Intra-Abdominal Hypertension

Abstract

Transmitted airway pressure only slightly affects intra-abdominal pressure in mechanically ventilated patients, irrespective of respiratory compliance and baseline intra-abdominal pressure values. End-expiratory measurements referenced against atmospheric pressure may suffice for clinical practice.

Reduction of Intra-abdominal Hypertension Is Associated with Increase of Cardiac Output in Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation

“…7 It has been proved that in hypovolemic patients, IAH is associated with a significant increase in the parameters reflecting ventricular preload. 8,9 At the same time, ventricular preload is highly susceptible to the variations of intrathoracic pressures resulting from mechanical ventilation. 7 As ventricular preload in one of the major determinants of CO, at the same time being influenced by the param-eters related to mechanical ventilation, a direct correlation should exist between CO and mechanical ventilation parameters.…”

“…The role of functional hemodynamic monitoring in critically ill patients has been well established, and the relation between functional hemodynamic parameters and IAH has been demonstrated. [7][8][9] Such a functional hemodynamic monitoring includes the assessment of variable hemodynamic parameters such as stroke volume variation and pulse pressure variation. It has been clearly demonstrated that these parameters can predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients, based on the complex relationship between intra-thoracic pressure and intraabdominal pressure.…”