A randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of humidified carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopy

Background: The humidification of gas insufflated during laparoscopy can re duce the degree of postoperative hypothermia and may result in less periton eal reaction and less postoperative pain. The present study was designed to determine whether the beneficial effects of humidified gas insufflation al so applied to thoracoscopy. Methods: Six pigs were each studied on three separate occasions with insuff lation into the right thoracic cavity of either humidified gas, standard dr y gas, or with no insufflation (control procedure). Core body temperature w as recorded every 15 min, and biopsies of the parietal pleura were taken at the end of each study for electron microscopy, Results: Humidification of insufflated gas significantly minimized the fall in core temperature during the procedure. Electron microscopy showed that dry gas insufflation resulted in greater structural injury to the pleura th an humidified gas insufflation. Conclusions: The potential benefits of humidifying insufflation gas during thoracoscopy warrant its evaluation in the clinical setting.