The optimum pneumoperitoneum pressure for laparoscopic surgery in the rat model. A detailed cardiorespiratory study.
BACKGROUND
There is increasing interest in the rat model of laparoscopic surgery. This study evaluates the cardiorespiratory effects of increasing CO2 pneumoperitoneum (PP) in the rat.


METHODS
Nine Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to CO2 PP at pressures of 2, 5, 10, and 15 mmHg or control (no PP) under anesthesia. Catheters were placed in the femoral artery and the jugular vein to measure heart rate (HR), blood pressure (MAP), and arterial pH, PCO2, PO2, and HCO3. A thermistor probe in the aortic arch measured cardiac output (CO) and blood temperature (BT).


RESULTS
CO2 PP had no effect on CO, MAP, or BT at any pressure. CO2 PP greater than 5 mmHg caused significant bradycardia and CO2 PP greater than 10 mmHg caused significant respiratory acidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
CO2 PP pressures above 10 mmHg in rat should be avoided when performing laparoscopic surgery in the rat model.
Berguer
R
R
Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
Cornelius
T
T
Dalton
M
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D015996:Survival Rate
D002245:Carbon Dioxide