An observation into the accumulation of N2O in the pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgeries

Authors : Anilkumar Narayan, Avinash Prakash, Habib Md Reazaul Karim, Sanjay Kumar

DOI : 10.18231/j.ijca.2019.034

Volume : 6

Issue : 2

Year : 2019

Page No : 187-188

Introduction and Aim: Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the oldest inhalational anaesthetic agents used in modern anaesthesia practice, N₂O has been on and off the list of drugs in the anaesthesiologist’s armamentarium.
It is believed that diffused N₂O will accumulate in the third spaces causing its expansion and pressures build up.
However, much is not known about how much it diffuses. The aim of present study is to analyze the extent of N₂O in peritoneal cavity following creation of pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic surgeries as well as relationship to the duration of pneumoperitoneum.
Materials and Methods: Twenty two ASA I & II patients of both sexes aged between 18 to 65 years who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included with consent. N₂O and O₂ were administered at a fixed proportion of 60:40. Volatile anaesthetic agent Sevoflurance was administered and adjusted to achieve a MAC_age of 1.1 to 1.2.
Results: Entire 22 (50% female) patients with mean + standard deviation (SD) age and weight of 40.18 + 8.96 years and 63.05 + 6.09 kilogram fulfilled inclusion criteria and data were analyzed. No N₂O or anaesthetic agent was detected in the aspirated sample at the end of surgery.
Conclusion: Amount of N₂O accumulated in CO₂ pneumoperitoneum used for laparoscopic surgeries are insignificant to nil for 3hour procedures.

Keywords: Nitrous oxide, Pneumoperitoneum.

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