Electrocardiogram, arterial and central venous pressure during laparoscopy under local anaesthesia

Cardiovascular hazards of laparoscopy performed under local anaesthesia and with room air pneumoperitoneum are not well known. Therefore we have recorded electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure in 63 consecutive liver patients undergoing this procedure. Electrocardiographic changes were found in 34 cases, and consisted in transistory tachycardia and bradycardia, ectopic supraventricular and ventricular beats, ST segment depression and flattening of T wave. Blood pressure did not change significantly, but five patients had transitory hypotension during the procedure. Central venous pressure did not vary immediately after inflation, but a significant increase was found during the performance of laparoscopy and it was still observed after deflation. Our findings show that cardiovascular changes during laparoscopy under local anaesthesia are minimal, and that they are probably due to neurogenic factors.