Cardiorespiratory parameters during conventional or gasless gynecological laparoscopy under general or regional anesthesia.

BACKGROUND

Conventional laparoscopy is aided by CO2 insufflation, which may impair the cardiorespiratory system and have life-threatening implications. This procedure is conducted under general anesthesia (GA). Gasless laparoscopy supposedly eliminates most of those disadvantages, but is technically more difficult to perform. In the present study, we compared cardiorespiratory parameters of conventional abdominal laparoscopy under GA to gasless laparoscopy under general or epidural anesthesia.

MATERIAL/METHODS: This is a prospective study. Twenty four healthy female patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopies lasting <90 min were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1, conventional laparoscopy under GA; group 2, gasless laparoscopy under GA; and group 3, gasless laparoscopy under epidural anesthesia. Cardiorespiratory parameters and length of operative, postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and hospitalization periods as well as analgesic requirements in the PACU and complications in the operative and postoperative periods were recorded.

RESULTS

No significant differences were detected between groups throughout the operative and postoperative periods, except for a rise in CO2 in group 1 and a lower analgesic requirement in the PACU in group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

General and regional anesthesia may be employed in gasless laparoscopy for gynecological surgery.