Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics/Division of Neonatology,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Donald M. Null, Jr. M.D., Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit, Primary Children's Medical Center, 100 N Mario Capecchi
Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA. Tel.: +1 801 662 4182; Fax: +1 801 662
4166; E-mail: Donald.Null@hsc.utah.edu
Abstract: Objective: To define the range of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in
sick neonates using surrogate measurements of bladder pressure. Methods: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients requiring an indwelling urinary
catheter were enrolled in the study. A bladder pressure monitoring system was
attached to the catheter and measurements recorded every 2–4 h. Results: Data were collected on 30~neonates. Median birth weight, gestational age, and
duration of study were 2580 g, 37 wk, and 5.5 d, respectively.
1219 measurements were obtained with median (interquartile range)= 8
(3–10) mmHg and 90th percentile =13 mmHg. 18 neonates (60%) required
abdominal surgery and 85% of IAP values > 90th percentile occurred post
operatively (p< 0.001). 72% (13/18) of post operative patients had IAP
> 90th percentile compared to 18% (2/12) of non surgical patients (p=0.008). Conclusions: Measuring IAP in sick neonates can be done as part
of neonatal intensive care. The time of highest risk for elevated IAP appears
to be in the post-operative period.
