HEMODYNAMIC-CHANGES IN THE INFERIOR CAVAL VEIN DURING PNEUMOPERITONEUM - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN PIGS

Background: Laparoscopic procedures of increasing difficulty and durat ion are becoming more and more common, This may cause significant chal lenges to the circulatory system and possibly influence thrombogenicit y. Methods: Experimental study of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in p igs. Results: Inferior caval vein blood flow remained unchanged, where as inferior caval vein pressure increased during pneumoperitoneum. Inf erior caval vein, pulmonary, and systemic vascular resistance increase d during pneumoperitoneum and remained increased after exsufflation. C onclusions: Pneumoperitoneum leads to an increased inferior caval vein pressure, which could cause a dilation of peripheral veins, The simil ar patterns of vascular resistance in the inferior caval vein, pulmona ry artery, and systemic arteries (a gradual increase remaining elevate d after exsufflation) suggest a common humoral factor or increased sym pathetic nerve activity.