title: Perspectives in sequential pneumatic compression of the lower extremities (SCD) for laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: During most cases of laparoscopic surgery, a pneumoperitoneum of 12-14 mm Hg CO2 is established. Although not always detected in healthy patients, a pneumoperitoneum will cause clinically relevant pathophysiological changes. Among other side effects, a pneumoperitoneum will alter the venous blood return from the lower extremities and depress cardiac function. Results from experimental and clinical studies concerning the influence of a pneumoperitoneum on venous blood return and cardiac function are reviewed and a simple model of cardiac function impairment during laparoscopic surgery with a pneumoperitoneum is presented. Sequential pneumatic compression of the lower extremities is effective in reducing venous stasis during and after conventional surgery. Several clinical trials determined the hemodynamic effect of intraoperative SCD (sequential compression device) during laparoscopic surgery. In the following text the results of these studies are summarized and possible implications for the clinical use of SCD in laparoscopic surgery are discussed. Although potential benefits of SCD-therapy have been shown only in studies of low methodological quality, intraoperative SCD-therapy is recommended during prolonged laparoscopic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General-, Visceral-, Vascular- and Thoracic Surgery, Medical Faculty of the Humboldt-University, Berlin. wolfgang.schwenk@charite.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwenk
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Junghans
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*