VENTILATORY EFFECTS OF LAPAROSCOPY UNDER GENERAL-ANESTHESIA

We have studied 14 female patients undergoing elective laparoscopy under general anaesthesia with peritoneal insufflation of carbon dioxide in order to examine changes in physiological deadspace (VD(phys)), arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure difference (Pa(co2) - PE'(co2)) and Pa(co2') VCO2 increased after insufflation of carbon dioxide with a mean (SD) maximum increase of 32 (28) % compared with the preinsufflation value. Pa(CO2) increased also, with a mean (SD) maximum increase of 0.6 (0.58) kPa immediately before carbon dioxide deflation. VD(phys) and (Pa(co2 - PE'(co2)) increased during laparoscopy, but this was not significant (P > 0.05).