A comparison of the hemodynamic and ventilatory effects of abdominal insufflation with helium and carbon dioxide in young swine

Abdominal CO2 insufflation has been shown to cause hypercarbia, acidemia, and decreased oxygenation in a pediatric animal model. Such metabolic derangements have prompted a search for alternative insufflation gases. This study compares the hemodynamic and ventilatory changes that occur during pneumoperitoneum with CO2 and helium. Four juvenile swine were intubated and given general anesthesia. Minute ventilation was adjusted to obtain a baseline PCO2 Of between 32 and 36 mm Hg, and was kept constant for the duration of the experiment. The subjects initially were insufflated with CO2 or helium at a pressure of 10 mm Hg. Peak ventilatory pressure, end-tidal CO2 (ETCO(2)) arterial pH, PCO2, PO2, and right atrial and inferior vena caval pressures were measured before and during al-hour insufflation period. After desufflation, PCO2 and pH were restabilized. The same parameters were then measured during reinsufflation with the alternate gas. CO2 insufflation caused significant decreases in pH, from 7.51 +/- 0.03 to 7.32 +/- 0.06, and PO2 increased from 261 +/- 49 to 189 +/- 33 mm Hg; PCO2 increased from 35.0 +/- 1.4 to 57.9 +/- 6.3 mm Hg. ETCO(2) also increased, from 29.0 +/- 2.2 to 47.2 +/- 5.0 mm Hg. Helium insufflation caused pH to decrease from 7.51 +/- 0.01 to 7.42 +/- 0.04. PCO2 increased from 32.8 +/- 0.8 to 43.5 +/- 3.9 mm Hg, and ETCO(2) increased from 27.8 +/- 0.5 to 36.8 +/- 3.1 mm Hg. These alterations were significantly less than those with CO2 eneumoperitoneum. PO2 decreased as well-from 266 +/- 30 to 212 +/- 21 mm Hg. During insufflation with both gases, peak ventilatory pressure and right atrial pressure increased slightly, and inferior vena caval pressure increased Sighiiicantly. Abdominal insufflation with CO2 or helium causes hypercarbia, acidemia, and increased ETCO(2) in this juvenile animal model. These derangements are significantly less with helium. This gas may prove to be the more suitable insufflation agent for pediatric patients. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company