END-TIDAL CARBON-DIOXIDE TENSION DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY - CORRELATION WITH THE BASE-LINE VALUE PRIOR TO CARBON-DIOXIDE INSUFFLATION

An investigation of end‐tidal carbon dioxide tension changes was carried out in 19 healthy adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Following induction of anaesthesia, and throughout surgery, the end‐tidal carbon dioxide tension was continuously monitored by capnography. The value following carbon dioxide insufflation increased with time to reach a maximum value after 40 min. Correlation of the individual maximum end‐tidal carbon dioxide tension during laparoscopy with the corresponding baseline value prior to carbon dioxide insufflation showed a positive linear relationship (correlation coefficient 0.86). The correlation showed that an end‐tidal carbon dioxide tension of 5.32 kPa (40 mmHg) can be achieved during laparoscopy when the baseline value is adjusted to around 4.0 kPa (30 mmHg). Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved