The real intraabdominal pressure during laparoscopy: comparison of different insufflators

Cardiorespiratory impact of intrathoracic pressure overshoot during artificial carbon dioxide pneumothorax: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate cardiovascular and respiratory effects of intrathoracic pressure overshoot (higher than insufflation pressure) in patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy procedures with carbon dioxide (CO₂) pneumothorax.

METHODS

This prospective research included 200 patients who were scheduled for esophagectomy from August 2016 to July 2020. The patients were randomly divided into the Stryker insufflator (STR) group and the Storz insufflator (STO) group. We recorded the changes of intrathoracic pressure, peak airway pressure, blood pressure, heart rate and central venous pressure (CVP) during artificial pneumothorax. The differences in blood gas analysis, the administration of vasopressors and the recovery time were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

We found that during the artificial pneumothorax, intrathoracic pressure overshoot occurred in both the STR group (8.9 mmHg, 38 times per hour) and the STO group (9.8 mmHg, 32 times per hour). The recorded maximum intrathoracic pressures were up to 58 mmHg in the STR group and 51 mmHg in the STO group. The average duration of intrathoracic pressure overshoot was significantly longer in the STR group (5.3 ± 0.86 s) vs. the STO group (1.2 ± 0.31 s, P < 0.01). During intrathoracic pressure overshoot, a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (5.6 mmHg vs. 1.1 mmHg, P < 0.01), a higher elevation in airway peak pressure (4.8 ± 1.17 cmH₂O vs. 0.9 ± 0.41 cmH₂O, P < 0.01), and a larger increase in CVP (8.2 ± 2.86 cmH₂O vs. 4.9 ± 2.35 cmH₂O, P < 0.01) were observed in the STR group than in the STO group. Vasopressors were also applied more frequently in the STR group than in the STO group (68% vs. 43%, P < 0.01). The reduction of SBP caused by thoracic pressure overshoot was significantly correlated with the duration of overshoot (R = 0.76). No obvious correlation was found between the SBP reduction and the maximum pressure overshoot.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrathoracic pressure overshoot can occur during thoracoscopic surgery with artificial CO₂ pneumothorax and may lead to cardiovascular adverse effects which highly depends on the duration of the pressure overshoot.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02330536 ; December 24, 2014).

Coming to terms with the fact that the evidence for laparoscopic entry is as good as it gets

Entry to the peritoneal cavity for laparoscopic surgery is associated with defined morbidity, with all entry techniques associated with substantial complications. Debate over the safest entry technique has raged over the last 2 decades, and yet, we are no closer to arriving at a scientifically valid conclusion regarding technique superiority. With hundreds of thousands of patients required to perform adequately powered studies, it is unlikely that appropriately powered comparative studies could be undertaken. This review examines the risk of complications related to laparoscopic entry, current statements from examining bodies around the world, and the medicolegal ramifications of laparoscopic entry complications. Because of the numbers required for any complications study, with regard to arriving at an evidence-based decision for laparoscopic entry, we ask: is the current literature perhaps as good as it gets?

Laparoscopic management of obstructing small bowel GIST tumor

A laparoscopic approach to gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the small bowel seems to be a safe method even in the face of emergent surgery when open oncologic principles of bowel and tumor handling are followed.

Background:

Gastrointestinal stromal (GIST) tumors make < 1% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms and 20% of small bowel neoplasms. The most common acute presenting symptom of these tumors is gastrointestinal hemorrhage with obstruction being rare. We discuss our laparoscopic approach to 2 patients with small bowel GIST tumors that presented to our institution with obstruction of the small bowel.

Case Presentation:

Two patients presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction. On workup, each was found to have a solid lesion either within or adjacent to the small bowel at the point of obstruction and both were emergently taken to the operating room. The pathologic diagnosis of small bowel GIST tumor was the same in both cases, but the pathophysiologies of the obstructing tumors were different.

Results:

Both patients underwent laparoscopic surgery with successful resection of the lesions. The details and crucial points of the laparoscopic approach to these tumors are described with specific attention to its appropriateness and safety in treating GIST tumors. Attention to particular details of the manipulation and management of the bowel in the face of obstruction and removal of the lesions is described.

Conclusion:

The laparoscopic approach to GIST tumors of the small bowel, even in the face of emergent surgery, is a safe method.

Laparoscopic management of obstructing small bowel GIST tumor

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal (GIST) tumors make <1% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms and 20% of small bowel neoplasms. The most common acute presenting symptom of these tumors is gastrointestinal hemorrhage with obstruction being rare. We discuss our laparoscopic approach to 2 patients with small bowel GIST tumors that presented to our institution with obstruction of the small bowel.

CASE PRESENTATION

Two patients presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction. On workup, each was found to have a solid lesion either within or adjacent to the small bowel at the point of obstruction and both were emergently taken to the operating room. The pathologic diagnosis of small bowel GIST tumor was the same in both cases, but the pathophysiologies of the obstructing tumors were different.

RESULTS

Both patients underwent laparoscopic surgery with successful resection of the lesions. The details and crucial points of the laparoscopic approach to these tumors are described with specific attention to its appropriateness and safety in treating GIST tumors. Attention to particular details of the manipulation and management of the bowel in the face of obstruction and removal of the lesions is described.

CONCLUSION

The laparoscopic approach to GIST tumors of the small bowel, even in the face of emergent surgery, is a safe method.

Benchtop evaluation of pressure barrier insufflator and standard insufflator systems

BACKGROUND

Previous experimental research has reported minimal differences in pressure maintenance between different versions of standard insufflators (SI). However, a recent report identified potential clinical benefits with a valveless pressure barrier insufflator (PBI). We sought to perform a benchtop objective evaluation of SI and PBI systems.

METHODS

A rigid box system with continuous pressure manometry was used to evaluate a PBI (Surgiquest Airseal) and two SIs (SI1 = Stryker PneumoSure High Flow Insufflator and SI2 = Storz SCB Thermoflator). Pressure maintenance of 15 mmHg was evaluated during experimental conditions of leakage from a 5 mm port site, leakage from a 12 mm port site, and continuous suction.

RESULTS

With leakage from the 5 mm port site, the PBI maintained pressure of >13 mmHg whereas the pressures dropped moderately with the SI1 (7-13 mmHg) and SI2 insufflators (3-7 mmHg) and did not regain goal pressure until leakage was stopped. With leakage from 12 mm port site, the PBI pressure decreased to 9-11 mmHg, whereas the SI1 and SI2 lost insufflation pressures completely. The PBI maintained pressure of >11 mmHg during continuous suction while the SI1 and SI2 lost pressure entirely, and actually showed negative pressure from air suction into the rigid box system. When evaluated statistically with the mixed model repeated measures ANOVA, the SI1 and SI2 performed similarly while the PBI maintained increased pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

In the experimental rigid box system, the PBI more successfully maintained pressure in response to leakage and suction than SIs.

Asystole following positive pressure insufflation of right pleural cavity: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Adverse hemodynamic effects with severe bradycardia have been previously reported during positive pressure insufflation of the right thoracic cavity in humans. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of asystole during thoracoscopic surgery with positive pressure insufflation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 63-year-old Caucasian woman developed asystole at the onset of positive pressure insufflation of her right hemithorax during a thoracoscopic single-lung ventilation procedure. Immediate deflation of pleural cavity, intravenous glycopyrrolate and atropine administration returned her heart rhythm to normal sinus rhythm. The surgery proceeded in the absence of positive pressure insufflation without any further complications.

CONCLUSIONS

We discuss the proposed mechanisms of hemodynamic instability with positive pressure thoracic insufflation, and anesthetic and insufflation techniques that decrease the likelihood of adverse hemodynamic events.