CONTINUOUS ESOPHAGEAL PH MONITORING DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Gastro-esophageal regurgitation (GER) and eventual aspiration is consi dered a major risk during general anesthesia. High intraperitoneal pre ssure produced during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a possible source of increased GER. We investigated the incidence of GER using co ntinuous esophageal pH monitoring in 14 patients undergoing elective L C. Only two brief episodes of acid reflux (pH < 4) occurred during LC. Apparently the high intraperitoneal pressure during LC carries no inc reased risk of regurgitation and aspiration.