AIMSLaparoscopically performed surgeries have increased manifold as they have provided many advantages when compared to traditional way of performing surgeries. But laparoscopic technique has its own disadvantages, which may be in form of metabolic effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Current observation study was designed for observing metabolic changes in form of PaCO2, EtCO2, pH and bicarbonate levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and their effects on patient if any. Role of lung protective ventilation in managing PaCO2 and to ascertain the need of arterial blood gas monitoring in presence of EtCO2 monitoring in laparoscopic procedures like cholecystectomy.
METHODS50 ASA 1 and ASA 11 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected for this study. Each of them was anaesthetised by standard protocol for general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Surgical technique was uniform in all the cases. Arterial blood gas sampling was done prior to CO2 pneumoperitoneum and at intervals of 15 minutes and 30 minutes and then in recovery post reversal of pneumoperitoneum and extubation once patient was stable. Variables like PaCO2, EtCO2, pH and bicarbonate were recorded and analysed statistically for results.
RESULTSThere were significant changes in PaCO2, EtCO2, pH and bicarbonate at 15 min and 30 min intervals with return to baseline in early post-operative period. Changes in variables were in normal range for these variables without any significant effect on patient. Furthermore, it was noted that EtCO2 varied in accordance to PaCO2, thus could be used as surrogate marker of PaCO2 in case of arterial blood gas measurement is not available.
CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic cholecystectomy with CO2 pneumoperitoneum results in changes in PaCO2, EtCO2, pH and bicarbonate, but the changes return to baseline in early post-operative period on reversal of CO2 pneumoperitoneum. EtCO2 monitoring can be used as surrogate marker in short laparoscopic procedures in most cases in case arterial blood gas monitoring is not available. Lung protective ventilation could be used to manage PaCO2 intra-operatively.