Abstract
Increased intra-abdominal pressure is a common finding in intensive care units that may lead to organ dysfunction with severe clinical consequences. We examined the effects of intra-abdominal hypertension on amino acid metabolism.
Intra-abdominal hypertension (26 mmHg) was created in male pigs (40-50 kg, n=8) by instillation of saline into the peritoneal cavity. Blood was sampled from the femoral artery and portal vein after 1 hour of resting state, 3 hours of intra-abdominal hypertension and 2 hours after decompression.
Amino acid concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.The arteriovenous differences indicated the uptake of glutamine, glutamate, serine and ornithine, and release of citrulline by the intestine. Intra-abdominal hypertension resulted in an increase in plasma concentrations of branched-chain amino acids, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine.