Is pneumoperitoneum harmful during intra-abdominal hemorrhage in rats?

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic surgical interventions are being used in trauma patients for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, but there are limited studies on this subject. The effect of pneumoperitoneum during intra-abdominal hemorrhage has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic, respiratory, and renal effects of pneumoperitoneum in the splenic injury/hemorrhagic shock model in rats. Material and Methods: In this study, 80 anesthetized Wistar male rats (294.5 +/- 31.2 g) were randomized into 2 main groups: nontraumatized (group A) and traumatized (group B). After initial preparation and monitoring, each group was divided according to the degree of pneumoperitoneum. The nontraumatized subgroups were A(1), sham-operated; A(2), 4-8 mm Hg; A(3), 9-13 mm Hg; and A(4), 14-18 mm Hg. The traumatized subgroups were B 1, splenic injury without pneumoperitoneum; B-2, B-3, and B-4, splenic injury with pneumoperitoneum at 4-8 mm Hg, 9-13 mm Hg, and 14-18 mm Hg, respectively. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were monitored continuously. Blood samples were obtained for hemoglobin, hematocrit, arterial blood gases, and biochemical analyses. Twenty-four hour urine output was collected. Results: In group B-4, pH, pCO(2), and HCO3 levels were lower than in all other groups, while pCO(2) and base deficit levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Both blood and urine analysis results showed that 24-hour urine output and the glomerular filtration rate of groups A(4) and B-4 were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while urinary osmolarity and fractional sodium excretion levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Conclusion: High-pressure pneumoperitoneum in splenically traumatized rats amplifies acidosis, decreases urine output, decreases glomerular filtration rate, and increases urinary osmolarity and fractional sodium excretion significantly.