Hypoxaemia induced by CO(2) or helium pneumoperitoneum is a co-factor in adhesion formation in rabbits.

A prospective randomized trial in a rabbit model was performed to test the hypothesis that the increase in adhesion formation following prolonged pneumoperitoneum is mediated by peritoneal hypoxaemia. Laparoscopic standardized opposing lesions were performed in uterine horns and pelvic sidewalls by bipolar coagulation and CO(2) laser in six groups of eight animals. Pure CO(2) or helium pneumoperitoneum was used for 10 (groups I and IV) or 45 min (groups II and V) to confirm the effect of duration of pneumoperitoneum and 96% of CO(2) or helium with 4% of oxygen (group III and VI) for 45 min to assess the effect of the addition of oxygen. After 7 days, adhesion formation was scored by laparoscopy. By two-way analysis of variance, total, extent, type and tenacity of adhesion scores increased (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0004, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.004) with increasing duration of pneumoperitoneum and decreased (P = 0.02, P = 0.03, P = 0.01 and P = 0.05) with the addition of oxygen. No differences were found between CO(2) and helium. In conclusion these data confirm the effect of pneumoperitoneum upon adhesions and demonstrate its reduction by oxygen, strongly suggesting that the main cause of adhesion formation is the relatively superficial hypoxaemia produced by the pneumoperitoneum.