Non-invasive negative pressure system to treat abdominal hypertension

Abstract

Abdominal hypertension can complicate critical care conditions. If untreated and sustained, abdominal hypertension can lead to the abdominal compartment syndrome with its high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of+ severe abdominal hypertension is often surgical. We designed ABDOPRE, a system to non-invasively lower abdominal pressure. A bell-shaped chamber is applied on the patient’s abdomen and by means of a vacuum pump a negative pressure is generated in the chamber outside the abdomen. ABDOPRE senses intra-abdominal pressure from an indwelling urinary bladder catheter. The desired value of abdominal pressure and the time allowed to reach this value are entered into the system which servo-controls the vacuum pump, according to treatment protocols. Pressure data of the monitoring/treatment sessions are recorded to allow review of patient response and a daily report is available for the Electronic Medical Record. Preliminary observations were made on intensive care patients.