Body temperature evaluation during induced pneumoperitoneum with CO₂: an experimental study in pigs.
BACKGROUND
In prolonged laparoscopic procedures, hypothermia is frequently observed. The possible influence of the vasodilating action of CO(2), due to its increased levels in the blood during the laparoscopic procedures, has yet to be studied. The objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate body temperature patterns in pigs subjected to pneumoperitoneum with CO(2).


METHODS
Thirty male pigs were allocated into three groups of ten animals each: group I, anesthetic procedure and abdominal puncture only; group II, the same as for group I and insufflation with CO(2); and group III, the same as for group I and insufflation with medical grade compressed air. After anesthetic induction and surgical preparation, rectal and esophageal temperatures were measured every 10 min. Blood was collected during the experiment for the gasometric measurement of pCO(2). Animals were insufflated with no gas loss and were kept anesthetized for 180 min. For statistical analysis, Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used at a level of significance of 95% (P < 0.05).


RESULTS
Animals in groups I and II (P = 0.000) had a statistically significant drop in both esophageal and rectal temperatures during the experiment, but not animals in group III. However, when the groups were compared among themselves, no statistically significant differences were found at any of the times measured. A statistically significant drop in pCO(2) levels was observed for groups I and III, but not for animals in groups II.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of CO(2) did not significantly affect body temperature variation in pigs subjected to pneumoperitoneum. However, CO(2) produced a temperature drop pattern different than that of compressed air, indicating that CO(2) may lead to thermoregulatory changes and influence the peripheral temperature drop.
Department of General Surgery, State University of Maringá (UEM), University Hospital, Av. Mandacarú, 1590, Maringá, PR 87083-240, Brazil. gastromed@wnet.com.br
Marcelo
M
Rezende
Orlando
O
Prado
Cesar
C
Bandeira
André
A
Petri
Edna
E
Montero
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology; D007327:Insufflation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D034421:Sus scrofa
D002245:Carbon Dioxide