Is helium insufflation superior to carbon dioxide insufflation in bacteremia and bacterial translocation with peritonitis?

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of CO2 or helium insufflation on bacteremi a and bacterial translocation in rats with peritonitis. Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four groups, each containing 10 rats. The rats in the first group were injected only with E. coli into their peritoneal cavities with no further manipulat ion. The second group, following E. coli injection, underwent midline lapar otomy without manipulation of the viscera for 1 hour. After the injection o f E. coli in the third and fourth groups, CO2 and helium pneumoperitoneum, respectively, were maintained for 1 hour under 14 mm Hg pressure. At the en d of the sixth hour, tissue samples were taken from the liver, spleen, lung , and mesenteric lymph nodes in order to evaluate bacterial translocation. During the study, blood samples were taken from each rat at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours to demonstrate bacteremia. Results: There was a significant increase in bacteremia in the CO2 pneumope ritoneum group compared with the laparotomy-only and helium groups at 1 and 2 hours. Although all the blood samples at the fourth hour were positive f or E. coli in every rat of all groups, helium was associated with a lower i ncidence of bacteremia at the sixth hour compared with other groups (P < 0. 05). The CO2 pneumoperitoneum caused bacterial translocation to all organs from which tissue samples were taken. Although there was an insignificant d ecrease in translocation to the liver, spleen, and lung with helium compare d with CO2 insufflation, helium did not increase bacterial translocation to the spleen compared with laparotomy alone, as did CO2 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Helium might be an alternative to CO2 insufflation in patients with peritonitis if these results are confirmed by further experimental and clinical trials.