Humidified compared with dry, heated carbon dioxide at laparoscopy to reduce pain.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether using 95% humidified, heated carbon dioxide (CO(2)) at laparoscopy reduces pain compared with dry, heated CO(2).


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to either heated, 95% humidified CO(2) (study group) or heated, dry CO(2) (control group) during laparoscopy. Pain control was achieved per standard protocols. Pain scales were administered the first 4 hours and 24 and 48 hours postoperatively.


RESULTS
The 89 patients available in the intent-to-treat model revealed a decrease in total morphine equivalents and a decrease in pain scores at 1, 2, and 24 hours in the study group (directional P values < .05). Subgroup analysis in patients without chronic pelvic pain revealed lower mean pain scores at 1, 2, 24, and 48 hours and decreases in postoperative and total morphine equivalents (directional P values < .05) in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
At laparoscopy, heated, 95% humidified CO(2) effectively decreases postoperative pain and narcotics usage compared with heated, dry CO(2).


METHODS
II-2.
Beste
Todd M
TM
Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834, USA. bestet@mail.ecu.edu
Daucher
James A
JA
Holbert
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000379:methods*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide