ANESTHESIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MINIMAL INVA SIVE SURGERY - PREOPERATIVEASSESSMENT

Laparoscopic surgery may be associated with increased perioperative mo rbidity due to respiratory and cardiocirculatory problems. Preoperativ e assessment requires a diagnostic program including laboratory tests and noninvasive diagnostic studies, and a physical status classificati on. High-risk patients are those with intracardial right-to-left shunt s (increased risk of gas embolism) and patients in shock. Increased in traoperative morbidity is expected in patients with manifest cardiac f ailure or severely restricted pulmonary function. In patients with mod erate pulmonary dysfunction laparoscopic procedures seem to be associa ted with the benefit of a better postoperative pulmonary function.