LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY IN WEIGHTLESSNESS

Background: Performing a surgical procedure in weightlessness has been shown not to be any more difficult than in a 1g environment if the re quirements for the restraint of the patient, operator, and surgical ha rdware are observed. The feasibility of performing a laparoscopic surg ical procedure in weightlessness, however, has been questionable. Conc erns have included the impaired visualization from the lack of gravita tional retraction of the bowel and from floating debris such as blood. Methods: In this project, laparoscopic surgery was performed on a por cine animal model in the weightlessness of parabolic flight. Results: Visualization was unaffected due to the tethering of the bowel by the elastic mesentery and the strong tendency for debris and blood to adhe re to the abdominal wall due to surface tension forces. Conclusions: T here are advantages to performing a laparoscopic instead of an open su rgical procedure in a weightless environment. These will become import ant as the laparoscopic support hardware is miniaturized from its pres ent form, as laparoscopic technology becomes more advanced, and as mor e surgically capable crew medical officers are present in future long- duration space-exploration missions.