Abdominal Hypertension after Abdominal Plication in Postbariatric Patients: The Consequence in the Postoperative Recovery

Background  Abdominoplasty with abdominal plication increases intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and has been previously associated with limited diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory dysfunctions. Many factors found in abdominoplasties and among postbariatric patients predispose them to a higher occurrence. This study aims to evaluate the impact of abdominal plication among postbariatric patients, assess whether the plication increases their IAP, and analyze how these IAP correlate to their postoperative outcome. Methods  This prospective study was performed on all patients who underwent circumferential Fleur-De-Lis abdominoplasty. For this intended study, the IAP was measured by an intravesical minimally invasive approach in three stages: after the initiation of general anesthesia, after a 10-cm abdominal wall plication and skin closure, and 24 hours after the procedure. Results  We included 46 patients, of which 41 were female and 5 were male. Before the bariatric procedure, these patients had an average maximum weight of 121.4 kg and an average maximum body mass index of 45.78 kg/m 2 ; 7 were grade I obese patients, 10 were grade II, and 29 were grade III. Only three patients were operated on with a gastric sleeve and 43 with gastric bypass. We presented six patients with transitory intra-abdominal hypertension in the first 24 hours, all of them from the grade I obesity group, the highest presented was 14.3 mm Hg. We presented 15% (7/46) of complication rates, which were only four seroma and five dehiscence; two patients presented both seroma and wound dehiscence. Conclusion  Performing a 10-cm abdominal wall plication or greater represents a higher risk for intra-abdominal hypertension, slower general recovery, and possibly higher complication rate in patients who presented a lower degree of obesity (grade I) at the moment of the bariatric surgery.