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Urology & Nephrology Open Access Journal

Research Article Volume 2 Issue 4

Airseal during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and regional extended lymphadenectomy: intraoperative advantage

Sergio Lacquaniti

San Lazzaro Hospital, Italy

Correspondence: Sergio Lacquaniti, San Lazzaro Hospital, Asl CN2, Via Pierino Belli, 26. 12051, Alba, Italy, Tel 390173316112

Received: April 20, 2015 | Published: September 1, 2015

Citation: Lacquaniti S, Francesco V, Giuseppe F. Airseal during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and regional extended lymphadenectomy: intraoperative advantage. Urol Nephrol Open Access J. 2015;2(4):132-133. DOI: 10.15406/unoaj.2015.02.00049

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Abstract

Aim: We retrospectively compared two different carbon dioxide insufflators: Thermoflator (standard gas flow rate) and Airseal IFS (continuos bidirectional gas flow, lower flow rate), during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (t-LRP) in order to detect any differences in the anesthetic respiratory management.

Materials and methods: 77 consecutive patients underwent t-LRP. The last 38 patients treated using Thermoflator (group A) have been compared with the first 39 patients treated using Airseal (group B). Mean intrabdominal pressure was maintained at 12mmHg in all patients. Baseline tidal, minute ventilation and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) were set at 8ml/Kg, 10 breaths/minute and 5cm H2O respectively in both groups. End-tidal CO2 and arterial blood gas analysis were monitored during surgery. Changes of the baseline mechanical ventilator parameters have been made in the case of et CO2 greater than 40mmHg.

Results: Mean introperative et CO2 was 38.21mmHg in group A and 39.28mmHg in group B. Baseline mechanical ventilator paramethers had to be modified in 21/38 group A patients and in 5/39 group B patients (p<0.01). These changes allowed to maintain the et CO2 within 40mmHg in all patients of both groups. Discussion Laparoscopic urological interventions were always demanding procedures. It was true in most particular way during learning curve. Duration of anaesthesiology time should be taken in account for planning. AirSeal insufflator could be an useful device in order to reduce anesthesiologic implication.

Conclusion: In our experience the Airseal system simplified the anesthetic respiratory management and potentially limited the pulmonary damage.

Keywords: amyloidosis, kidney biopsy, lymphoproliferative disorders, monoclonal gammopathy, multiple myeloma, nephropathy

Introduction

Laparoscopic access provided for the formation of pneumoperitoneum by insufflation of carbon dioxide (CO2) inside the human body. Currently the traditional insufflators inject gas in a single direction: from the insufflator to the patient. Recently AirSeal appeared on the market. This new insufflator has created a continuous flow of CO2 from and towards the patient. This condition should prevent the gas to escape from the body, thus allowing using dedicated trocars without valves. The presence of a filter has allowed obtaining a cleaning of the fumes generated in the operating field by the electrified instruments. We used the Airseal in patient whose underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (t-LRP) with transperitoneal access at our Institution and compared it in a retrospective study, with the traditional Thermoflator, in order to detect any differences in the kinetics of carbon dioxide.

Materials and methods

From January 2011 to June 2012, 77 consecutive patients underwent t-LRP at our Department. All cases were performed by single surgeon who previously performed 272t-LRP. Thermoflator was used until November 2011. Thermoflator was replaced by Airseal since November 2011. The last 24 patients treated using Thermoflator (group A) have been compared with the first 27 patients treated using Airseal (group B). Patients’ preoperative characteristics are shown in Table 1. Patient position, Trendelenburg tilt, trocars layout and perioperative care were the same in both groups. Trocars features were the same, except for one dedicated valve less 12mm Airseal trocar. Mean intra-abdominal pressure was maintained at 12mmHg in group A and B. CO2 insufflation was set at the maximum rate allowed for each device. All t-LRP were performed under general anesthesia, using anesthesia delivery management system Aisys Carestation™ (General Electric’s, CT and USA). The same three anesthesiologists performed all t-LRP. Baseline tidal, minute ventilation and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) were set at 8ml/Kg, 10 breaths/minute and 5cm H2O respectively in both groups. During operation, end-tidal CO2 as displayed by mechanical ventilator and arterial blood gas analysis were recorded every 10minutes and 90minutes respectively. Blood gas analysis was also performed when end-tidal (et) CO2 greater than 40mmHg in order to confirm the value. Changes of the baseline mechanical ventilator parameters have been made in the case of et CO2 greater than 40mmHg. At first, breaths were increased up to 16/minute. In a second step, the tidal was increased up to 12ml/Kg. These changes have been made to keep the et CO2 lower than 40mmHg. Additional perioperative data were recorded: operative time, estimated blood loss, blood transfusions, hospital stay and early complications (Table 1). Student T-Test was used for statistical analysis.

 

Group A (Thermoflator)

Group B (Airseal)

P Value

Patients (n)

24

27

 

Mean Age

64

66

ns

Mean ASA Score

2

2

ns

COPD (n)

1

2

ns

Smoking History

7

9

ns

Mean Preop. Serum Haemoglobin (g/dl)±SD (Range)

14.3±1.8 (10.5 - 15.9)

14.7±1.7 (9.3 - 17.2)

ns

Mean Operative Time (minutes)±SD (Range)

178±50 (156 - 225)

173±48 (152 - 230)

ns

Estimated blood Loss (ml)±SD (Range)

380±30 (320 - 410)

370±40 (310 - 400)

ns

Mean Postop. Serum Haemoglobin (g/dl)±SD (Range)

12.4±1.8 (9.5 - 14.4)

11.9±2.0 (9.7 - 14.2)

ns

Table 1 Student T-Test was used for statistical analysis

Results

Mean intraoperative et CO2 was 38.21mmHg in group A and 39.28mmHg in group B. Baseline mechanical ventilator parameters had to be modified in 21/38 group A patients and in 5/39 group B patients (p<0.01). These changes allowed maintaining the et CO2 within 40mmHg in all patients of both groups. Mean operative time was 212minutes in group A and 224minutes in group B. Estimated blood loss was 389 cc and 404 cc respectively in group A and B. Two patients in group A and 3 patients in group A received autologous blood transfusion (one unit each). Mean hospital stay was 4days for each group. No major complication (III or IV, according to Clavien-Dindo classification) occurred. Two persistent lymphorrhoeas and one self-limiting anastomotic fistula occurred in group A, while three persistent lymphorreas in the remaining group.

Discussion

Laparoscopic surgery is known to have adverse effects on pulmonary gas exchange and respiratory mechanics.1–3 The Trendelenburg position and tilt needed to perform t-LRP and patient’s underlying respiratory problems (both obstructive and restrictive) complicate anesthetic management.4 Another key variable to be considered is operative time, influenced by the type of surgery and the surgeon’s skill. The management of mechanical ventilation during laparoscopic surgery, as in our experience, enables to overcome respiratory problems. To cope with blood CO2 increase, anaesthetists can change minute ventilation, tidal volume, inspiratory time and PEEP.5–7 But this protective ventilator strategy can increase the potential pulmonary damage, known to be present every time the invasive ventilation is applied. In our series patient position, pulmonary comorbidities, operative time and surgeon were comparable in both groups. Maximum et CO2 has been kept below 40mmHg in every patient in both groups. However in group an et CO2 intraoperatively increased beyond 40mmHg in a greater number of patients than in group B, thus in group A more patients needed modifications of respiratory parameters than in group B. Hence a reduction of potential pulmonary damage can be achieved when Airseal system is employed, even if our study was not able to identify clinical differences between groups. Previously Herati et al.,8 documented a lower CO2 consumption when the Airseal system was used, compared to the standard insufflator.

Conclusion

In our experience the Airseal system simplified the anesthetic respiratory management and potentially limited the pulmonary damage.

Acknowledgements

None.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

References

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©2015 Lacquaniti. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.