Correlation of IAP & IPP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the relationship between the intra-pulmonary and intra-abdominal pressures generated in healthy individuals requested to perform the Valsalva Manoeuvre and to Bear Down.
IRAS ID
169835
Contact name
Alison Watson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
The Valsalva Manoeuvre (VM) is used in assessing genital prolapse or incontinence in women. The degree of displacement of pelvic structures during straining will depend on the amount of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) generated by the VM. However generation of a maximum Valsalva effort relies greatly on the patient being able to understand what is asked of them. More often than not the patient finds it difficult to perform a reliable VM and the patient does not generate a standardised, reproducible rise in IAP.
Additionally hernias of the abdominal wall in men (and women) are usually diagnosed through a coughing action (which raises the IAP causing the hernia to bulge out of the abdominal wall) although a cough is unlikely to produce a consistent and repeatable IAP.
The IAP can also be raised by asking a patient to Bear Down (BD), the abdominal/pelvic straining manoeuvre that is undertaken when attempting to defecate.
Because the intra-abdominal cavity and the lungs are connected by the diaphragm it is possible that the IAP could be measured simply by measuring the pressure generated in the lungs, i.e. the intra-pulmonary pressure (IPP). A direct correlation would simply require a patient to raise the pressure in their lungs by blowing into a closed tube containing a pressure sensor, which would be easier to explain.
The study aims to measure IPP and IAP in healthy individuals who have been asked to perform VM and BD manoeuvres and determine the degree of correlations between the IPP and IAP.
Twenty healthy volunteers (10 female, 10 male) aged between 18 and 40 years would be recruited over a course of six months. All women will not have had any pregnancies.
The study will be advertised via posters around the CMFT hospitals, on the staff intranet and on the volunteer recruitment website at the University of Manchester.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0460
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion