• R Chun, L Baghirzada, C Tiruta, and A W Kirkpatrick.
• Department of Anesthesia, Foothills Medical Center, AlbertaHealth Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. rchun@ucalgary.ca
• Int J Obstet Anesth. 2012 Apr 1;21(2):135-9.

BackgroundThis study was conducted to assess the feasibility of measuring intra-abdominal pressure in term parturients under spinal anesthesia.MethodsIntra-abdominal pressure was measured in 20 term parturients after spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section. Pressure was measured in the supine and 10° left lateral tilt positions with a constant reference point throughout.ResultsIntra-abdominal pressure measurement was feasible and safe to perform. Pressure was significantly lower in the left lateral tilt position than supine (10.9 mmHg ± 4.67 vs. 8.9 mmHg ± 4.87, P=0.0004). The range of intra-abdominal pressure in pregnancy was wide, from 2 to 20 mmHg, with >25% of patients resting with pressures above 12 mmHg in both positions.ConclusionsUnder spinal anesthesia, intra-abdominal pressure in >25% of healthy term parturients was > 12 mmHg, which has conventionally been defined as intra-abdominal hypertension. The intra-abdominal pressure in term pregnancy should be performed in the left lateral tilt position to avoid falsely elevated pressure measurements.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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