[Effect of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum on selected parameters of the acid-base equilibrium in laparoscopic...

The authors focused attention on a hitherto less well known area of the effect of capnoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on homeostasis of the internal environment, i.e. values of the acid-base balance and its changes during surgery and the early postoperative period. From a randomized perspective study ensued that intraabdominal pressure and the reduction of the intraabdominal CO2 pressure from 15 mmHg to 10 mmHg did not have a significant effect on parameters of the acid-base balance in the investigated group of patients as compared with a control group. From the results it is apparent that possible danger of acidosis as a result of CO2 absorption from the abdominal cavity, deterioration of the splanchnic blood supply or a negative impact of the intraabdominal overpressure on the cardiovascular apparatus is sufficiently compensated by the respiratory system during artificial pulmonary ventilation. There is however a certain danger of acidosis during the immediate postoperative period after extubation when the patients are not yet able to compensate possible fluctuations of the acid-base balance and are according to the authors' measurements in a state of mixed or respiratory acidosis. But even in this respect no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups. These assessments were made in relatively healthy patients, i.e. group I and II according to the ASA classification, therefore these results will apply even mor in groups of risk patients of higher ASA categories. In particular in these patients it is useful to adjust the insufflation pressure individually to lower values in order to reduce to a minimum possible negative impacts of the capnoperitoneum.