title: Ventilatory and blood gas changes during laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.
abstract: As part of a randomized trial, ventilatory and arterial blood gas changes were assessed during open (n = 30) and laparoscopic (n = 30) cholecystectomy. Measurements were made during anaesthesia before the start of surgery and at the time of removal of the gallbladder. Despite an increase in minute ventilation from a mean(s.d.) of 5.7(1.4) to 6.1(1.2) litres, mean(s.d.) arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) rose from 5.3(0.9) to 6.0(0.9) kPa during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. End-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PE'CO2) had poor precision in predicting PaCO2 (95 per cent interval of agreement -0.61 to 1.93 kPa). Mean(s.d.) peak airway pressure increased from 17(4) to 23(4) cmH2O. The mean PaCO2--PE'CO2 value did not change significantly, although there was significant within-patient variation. Arterial oxygen levels did not change significantly. By comparison, no clinically significant changes in ventilation or blood gas values occurred during open cholecystectomy. In conclusion, laparoscopic cholecystectomy requires a substantial but variable increase in minute ventilation to compensate for carbon dioxide absorption from the peritoneum.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology*