Abdominal decompression is an

obstetric Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgic ...

procedure during which a

negative pressure Negative may refer to: Science and mathematics * Negative number * Minus sign (−), the mathematical symbol * Negative mass * Negative energy * Negative charge, one of the two types of electric charge * Negative (electrical polarity), ...

is applied intermittently to a pregnant woman's abdomen.

Efficacy

No benefits of abdominal decompression have been found in healthy pregnant women. Abdominal decompression has no effect on blood pressure of the mother. It also has no effect on the newborn baby's condition and subsequent intellectual development. Its effects on

pre-eclampsia Pre-eclampsia is a multi-system disorder specific to pregnancy, characterized by the new onset of hypertension, high blood pressure and often a significant amount of proteinuria, protein in the urine or by the new onset of high blood pressure a ...

, low birthweight and fetal distress during labour are unclear.

Technique

Abdominal decompression consists of placing a rigid covered dome around the abdomen, with the inside being decompressed to -50 to -100 mmHg for 15 to 30 seconds out of each minute for 30 minutes, one to three times daily, or continuously during labour. Abdominal decompression has been known to treat abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) helping patients who have intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and organ dysfunction.

References

{{reflist Obstetrical procedures

Efficacy

Technique

See also

References