[Continuous monitoring of hemoglobin oxygen saturation of the hepatic vein in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

We monitored of hemoglobin oxygen saturation of the hepatic vein (ShvO2) continuously in 6 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under inhalation anesthesia only, and in 6 patients under combined epidural and inhalation anesthesia. In inhalation anesthesia only group, arterial blood pressure increased and ShvO2 values decreased immediately after intraperitoneal insufflation with CO2, demonstrating the mean lowest ShvO2 value of 25 percent. In combined anesthesia group, arterial blood pressure and ShvO2 values were unchanged after the intraperitoneal insufflation compared with values obtained before the insufflation. The results indicate that hepatic blood flow may be better preserved with combined epidural and inhalation anesthesia than with inhalation anesthesia only, suggesting that sympathetic block by epidural anesthesia may contribute to this favorable effect on ShvO2.