[How to measure intra-abdominal pressure, the bladder pressure method].

Abdominal pressure, abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome are not synonyms but well-differentiated entities which have been studied over the last century in patients who have medical or surgical problems and in those who have undergone laparotomies to control abdominal damage. There are numerous bibliographical references and studies which have been carried out in this field by medical personnel to provide evidence of a tight relationship among abdominal hypertension and secondary physio-pathological alterations related to abdominal hypertension; therefore, it is important to monitor patients which will help to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome. The indirect intra-abdominal pressure measurement technique based on bladder pressure measurement is a useful procedure which nursing personnel administer and can even be practiced in doctors' offices. This technique is easy, well-known in surgical emergency wards and in reanimation wards; it is minimally invasive, has few side effects and its results can benefit patients; at present time, it is the preferred method to determine intra-abdominal pressure. The authors describe this technique, the materials necessary to administer it, and some of the aforementioned concepts to provide knowledge about abdominal compartment syndrome. Prevention, diagnosis and early measurement of bladder pressure and a timely decompression are the keys to decrease the death rate in patients affected by this syndrome.