Optimizing Rectus Sheath Plication in Lipoabdominoplasty: Correlation Between Corrected Distance, Intra-abdominal Pressure and Postoperative Pain.

BACKGROUND

Postpartum women often experience abdominal skin laxity and diastasis rectus abdominis. Lipoabdominoplasty, including anterior rectus sheath plication, is commonly performed to address these issues. However, excessive plication may increase intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and postoperative pain, potentially causing complications. The relationship between plication width, IAP, and postoperative pain remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate how plication width impacts IAP and postoperative pain in patients undergoing lipoabdominoplasty.

METHODS

Thirty female patients underwent lipoabdominoplasty with plication of anterior rectus sheath in two-layer suture. IAP was continuously monitored using a urodynamic analysis system (Laborie) throughout the procedure. For analysis, IAP was specifically recorded before and after the plication of the anterior rectus sheath. Postoperative pain was assessed on postoperative day 1 (POD1) using the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain. Plication width, original rectus diastasis width, and corrected distance were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Mean IAP increased significantly from 5.7 mmHg pre-plication to 9.3 mmHg post-plication (p < 0.05). Infraumbilical corrected distance (D3, 2.1±0.7 cm) showed the strongest correlation with increased IAP (R = 0.61) and postoperative pain (R = 0.5). No significant correlation was found between BMI, rectus diastasis, and pre-plication IAP. No patients exceeded IAP >12 mmHg. Minor complications occurred in 10% (3/30), including two seromas and one wound dehiscence.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior rectus sheath plication during lipoabdominoplasty significantly increased IAP, with the infraumbilical corrected distance (D3) demonstrating the strongest influence. In our study cohort, maintaining D3≤3.6 cm (mean: 2.1 cm) consistently kept IAP below the 12 mmHg safety threshold while achieving optimal esthetic outcomes. Continuous intraoperative IAP monitoring provided an objective method for individualized plication tension adjustment. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .