LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY - CAN SMOKE PARTICLE S CARRY CELLS

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that whole cells can be carried as an aerosol in the pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy. Twel ve patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for benign and metastatic disease were included in the study. Throughout the 12 procedures, the smoke and the gas of the pneumoperitoneum was evacuated through 17 fil ters. Twelve filters and the tubing were washed. The liquid was centri fuged and stained immunocytochemically to identify the cells. Five oth er filters were also photographed with an electron microscope. On immu nocytochemistry, nine of the twelve samples were identified as mesothe lial in origin and the electron micrograph show many other cells stuck to the filler which appeared to be blood cells and mesothelial cells. Malignant cells were not conclusively identified, but ethical conside rations prevented any intentional coagulation of malignant tissue. The presence of whole identifiable cells in the pneumoperitoneum could pa ltry explain, port site metastasis after laparoscopic surgery for canc er.