[The importance of capnometry and pulse oximetry in laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Recently the number of surgical and gynaecological operations performed via laparoscope has increased. The authors looked for the answer whether the carbon dioxide insufflated into the abdominal cavity during laparoscopy could cause significant change in the amount of carbon dioxide expired per minute. They measured the concentrations of carbon dioxide at the end of expiration, the amount of carbon dioxide produced per minute and the oxygen saturation during ataranaesthesia, muscle relaxation, intratracheal intubation and controlled mechanical ventilation in 20 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. According to the results the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled per minute increased 1-3 minutes after insufflation and its maximum value was reached within 15-30 minutes (120-140% of the basic value). The continuous pulsoxymetrical examination showed that the constant intraperitoneal pressure equal or higher than 13-15 Hgmm could lead to the increase of the intrapulmonal shunt-circulation due to dystelectasis of the pulmonary bases. This could be prevented by increasing the respiratory pause-pressure to the level corresponding to the intraperitoneal pressure. In order to decrease the intraoperative anaesthesiological risks associated with the procedure the authors propose the use of capnometer and pulsoxymeter for the mentioned operation; this will keep level up with the relatively small risks associated with the postoperative period of the laparoscopic operations.