Untoward cardiac changes during CO2 insufflation in laparoscopic cholecystectomies in low-risk patients

Severe Intraoperative Bradycardia during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy due to Rapid Peritoneal Insufflation

Laparoscopy is becoming increasingly popular in gynecological and general surgical operations. There are complications that are inherent to the laparoscopy techniques; amongst them is intraoperative vagal-mediated bradycardia that results from peritoneal stretching. This can occur due to high flow rate of gas during peritoneal insufflation, a practice still happening nowadays. We report a case of a middle-aged hypertensive patient who was undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient was assessed more than once preoperatively by the anesthesia team for blood pressure optimization. The patient underwent general anesthesia and developed severe bradycardia immediately after peritoneal insufflation. The management started immediately by stopping the insufflation and deflating the abdomen. Afterwards, atropine was administered intravenously, and CPR was started preemptively according to the ACLS protocol to prevent the patient from progressing into cardiac arrest. She responded to the management and became vitally stable within one minute. After confirming that there was no cardiac or metabolic insult through rapid blood investigations and agreeing that the cause of bradycardia was the rapid insufflation, the surgical team proceeded with the surgery in the same setting using low flow rate of CO₂ to achieve pneumoperitoneum. There were no complications in the second time and the operation was completed smoothly. The patient was extubated and shifted to the postanesthesia care unit to monitor her condition. The patient was stable and conscious and later shifted to the wards and discharged on routine follow-up after confirming that there were no complications in the postoperative follow-up. Therefore, it is important to monitor the flow rate of CO₂ during peritoneal insufflation in laparoscopic surgery as rapid peritoneal stretch can cause severe bradycardia that might progress into cardiac arrest, especially in hypertensive patients. It is also important for the anesthetist to be vigilant and ready to manage such cases.

Effects of carbon dioxide pneumoretroperitoneum on free radical formation in remote organs and use of verapamil as an antioxidant

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pneumoretroperitoneum (Prp) acts as an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury causes production of reactive oxygen species, which affect organs remote from the sites of I/R. The aim of this study was to assess the remote organ changes after Prp and to explore the effects of antioxidants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen adult rabbits were randomized to three groups, each consisting of six rabbits. Group I (control) underwent balloon dissection of the left retroperitoneal space without gas insufflation. In group II (Prp), carbon dioxide at 10 mm Hg was applied for 2 hours after the balloon dissection (ischemia period) and for 1 hour after desufflation (reperfusion period). In group III (Prp + antioxidant), 5 minutes before the experiment, verapamil at 0.2 mg/kg was given intravenously and the same procedure was employed as in group II. Hepatic, pulmonary, opposite kidney, and treated kidney malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were evaluated to show response to Prp.

RESULTS

Pneumoretroperitoneum exerted oxidative stress on all tissues with an increase of MDA (P < 0.05) and a decrease of GSH (P < 0.05). The verapamil-treated group showed lower values of MDA (P < 0.05) and higher values of GSH (P < 0.05) than group II.

CONCLUSION

Pneumoretroperitoneum increased oxidative stress in all remote organs tested. Verapamil reduced the oxidative stress. We concluded that Prp should be employed carefully in patients with limited vital organ capacity. Verapamil administration may be considered for protection against tissue injury attributable to oxidative stress in these patients.