[Intraabdominal pressure as a mortality predictor in abdominal surgery]

A case control study concerning intraabdominal pressure (IAP) in relation with mortality was developed in postoperative patients admitted in the intensive care unit of the Holguin General University Hospital V I Lenin in Cuba from March 1998 to March 2002. A total of 207 patients were included. The most frequently affected age groups were 16-35 years of age and 36-55 years of age. Sex distribution was similar. Mean IAP of diseased patients was 13.138333, S=5.8248008; meanwhile, patients who survived had 11.453299, S=4.9293458. There was a statistically significant difference between both groups (ANOVA) F=4.4726752). Proportion of diseased/alive patients also increased with greater values of IAP. There was specificity of 97.95% for predicting mortality when IAP was >21 cm of H2O and negative predictive value of 91.66% if IAP was <5 cm of H2O. We conclude that IAP is a good predictor of mortality for postoperative patients admitted to the intensive care unit. There is a very high probability of death if IAP is >21 cm of H2O and low probability if IAP is >5 cm of H2O.