Steuer K
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
AORN J. 1998 Sep;68(3):412-25; quiz 426, 429-32. doi: 10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62411-3.
Gaseous insufflation of the abdomen (i.e., pneumoperitoneum) is used routinely during laparoscopic surgery to allow the surgical team members to view the patient's viscera and to perform indicated procedures. Pneumoperitoneum has varying effects on the patient. The initiation and maintenance of pneumoperitoneum causes most of the complications seen with laparoscopic surgery. The perioperative nurse must understand the physiological effects of pneumoperitoneum on the patient to plan appropriate nursing interventions that ensure safe patient care.
