Central venous and bladder pressure reflect transdiaphragmatic pressure during pressure support ventilation.

Study Objectives: To determine whether the change in bladder pressure (Pblad) and central venous pressure (Pcvp) may reflect the changes in esophageal pressure (Pes) and gastric pressure (Pgas) when inspiratory pressure support (IPS) is altered.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: The ICUs of a teaching hospital.