Evaluation of intraabdominal hypertension and genitofemoral nerve motor conduction

The aim of this study was to electrophysiologically evaluate the effect of increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP) on genitofemoral nerve (GFN) motor conduction.

Seven Wistar albino rats were included. After anesthetization, latency and duration of GFN conduction was recorded with a needle-probe at rest. IAP was increased to 15 mmHg by insufflating atmospheric air with a percutaneous intraperitoneal needle. At 30 min of IAP, GFN motor conduction was recorded. Abdominal pressure was then increased to 20 mmHg. At 60 min, GFN motor conduction was recorded again. The consecutive recordings of latency and duration of GFN conduction (rest, 30 min, 60 min) were evaluated statistically.

There was a significant difference between latencies at rest (1.90 ± 0.22 ms), at 30 min (2.3 ± 0.36 ms), and at 60 min (2.74 ± 0.57 ms) (Friedman test, P = 0.001). The latency was significantly increased at 60 min compared to rest (post hoc Tukey test, P = 0.003). No similar difference was detected between the recordings at 30 and 60 min. The duration of GFN motor conduction showed no difference between consecutive recordings (P = 0.067).

Both increased and prolonged IAP causes prolonged latency of GFN conduction, probably due to a compression effect on GFN. Neuropraxial consequences of increased IAP are thought to be related to the compression effect of peripheral nerves.