Effects of 37℃ Carbon Dioxide Pneumoperitoneum on Core Body Temperature, Systolic Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Acid-Base Balance: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 21℃ CO₂ and 37℃ CO₂ pneumoperitoneum on body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and acid-base balance. METHODS: Data were collected at a 1300-bed university hospital in Incheon, from February through September 2012. A total of 74 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy under general anesthesia with desflurane were randomly allocated to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group received 21℃ CO₂ pneumoperitoneum; the experimental group received 37℃ CO₂ pneumoperitoneum. The pneumoperitoneum of the two groups was under abdominal pressure 15 mmHg. Body temperature, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and acid-base balance were assessed at 30 minutes and 90 minutes after pneumoperitoneum, and again at 30 minutes after arriving at the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. RESULTS: Body temperature in the 37℃ CO2 pneumoperitoneum group was significantly higher (F=9.43, p<.001) compared to the 21℃ CO₂ group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in systolic blood pressure (p=.895), heart rate (p=.340), pH (p=.231), PaCO₂ (p=.490) and HCO3- (p=.768) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Pneumoperitoneum of 37℃ CO₂ is effective for the increase of body temperature compared to pneumoperitonium of 21℃ CO₂, and it does not result in a decrease of blood pressure, heart rate or acid-base imbalance.