Use of gastric balloon manometry for estimation of intra-abdominal pressure in horses.
Authors: Canola P A, Perotta J H, Laskoski L M, Escobar A, Melo e Silva C A, Canola J C, Johnson P J, Valadão C A A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Standing laparoscopic surgery in horses increasingly relies on carbon dioxide insufflation to create working space, yet sustained elevation of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) poses significant physiological risks—making reliable pressure monitoring essential during these procedures. Canola and colleagues evaluated whether a gastric balloon manometry technique, already validated in human medicine, could provide a practical bedside method for estimating IAP in equine patients, comparing measurements against direct intra-abdominal readings obtained via needle catheter. The gastric balloon method proved sufficiently accurate for clinical use, offering farriers and veterinarians a non-invasive alternative to more invasive direct measurement techniques during standing procedures. For practitioners performing laparoscopic work, this approach enables safer procedural monitoring by detecting potentially dangerous pressure elevations without requiring additional instrumentation or compromising surgical access. Adoption of routine IAP assessment—whether via gastric balloon or alternative indirect methods—should become standard practice during extended standing laparoscopic procedures to mitigate cardiovascular and respiratory complications associated with prolonged abdominal insufflation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •When performing standing laparoscopic surgery with CO2 insufflation, use gastric balloon manometry to monitor abdominal pressure and prevent potentially fatal complications from sustained pressure elevation
- •This technique provides an accessible, practical method to assess intra-abdominal pressure in the field or surgical setting without requiring specialized equipment
- •Monitoring IAP during laparoscopic procedures helps ensure patient safety during increasingly common standing abdominal surgeries in horses
Key Findings
- •Gastric balloon manometry is proposed as a practical indirect method for estimating intra-abdominal pressure in horses undergoing standing laparoscopic procedures
- •Sustained increases in abdominal pressure during CO2 insufflation present life-threatening risks that require monitoring
- •Indirect methods for IAP assessment, well-studied in humans, have received minimal investigation in equine medicine