A randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of humidified carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopy.
BACKGROUND
The humidification of gas insufflated during laparoscopy can reduce the degree of postoperative hypothermia and may result in less peritoneal reaction and less postoperative pain. The present study was designed to determine whether the beneficial effects of humidified gas insufflation also applied to thoracoscopy.


METHODS
Six pigs were each studied on three separate occasions with insufflation into the right thoracic cavity of either humidified gas, standard dry gas, or with no insufflation (control procedure). Core body temperature was recorded every 15 min, and biopsies of the parietal pleura were taken at the end of each study for electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Humidification of insufflated gas significantly minimized the fall in core temperature during the procedure. Electron microscopy showed that dry gas insufflation resulted in greater structural injury to the pleura than humidified gas insufflation.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential benefits of humidifying insufflation gas during thoracoscopy warrant its evaluation in the clinical setting.
Mouton
W G
WG
University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011, Australia.
Bessell
J R
JR
Pfitzner
J
J
Dymock
R B
RB
Brealey
J
J
Maddern
G J
GJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006813:Humidity; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007327:Insufflation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055370:Lung Injury; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011031:Pneumothorax, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013552:Swine; D013906:Thoracoscopy
D002245:Carbon Dioxide