Catheter for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure for assessing preeclampsia

A method for measuring intra-abdominal pressure in a pregnant woman to assess occurrence or likelihood of pre-eclampsia via insertion of a pressure measuring catheter into a rectum of a woman, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a catheter having a first lumen and a pressure sensor,
• inserting the catheter into the rectum of the woman;
• inflating a balloon to provide continuity to a wall of the rectum, wherein a predetermined amount of air is advanced into the balloon prior to use of the pressure sensor,
• after inflation of the balloon, continuously monitoring pressure via obtaining multiple pressure readings of the continuous pressure monitoring based on the pressure sensor to thereby monitor pressure within an abdomen of the woman to assess if pre-eclampsia is occurring or likely to occur;
• and
• transmitting the pressure readings continuously to an external monitor connected to the catheter for a display of the pressure readings, a pressure reading of the multiple pressure readings indicative of a presence and/or risk of pre-eclampsia based on intra-abdominal pressure to determine when intervention should occur to prevent morbidity and mortality of the woman and baby;
• wherein the catheter includes an additional lumen and a stabilizing balloon, the additional lumen communicating with the stabilizing balloon to inflate the stabilizing balloon to stabilize a position of the catheter, the stabilizing balloon positioned proximal of the balloon and axially spaced from the balloon such that a distalmost end of the stabilizing balloon is spaced proximally from a proximalmost end of the balloon.