Anaesthesia for laparoscopic closure of perforated peptic ulcer--any harm or benefit?

Laparoscopic closure of perforated peptic ulcer is technically feasible (1). Haemodynamic changes during laparoscopic operations are known and may have an adverse influence on outcome in patients who have peritonitis, are hypovolemic or even septic (2-4). A complete physiological understanding of CO2-inflation of an abdomen in diffuse peritonitis is still missing. The purpose of this study is to compare perioperative variables of general anaesthesia in patients undergoing open or conventional laparoscopic closure of perforated peptic ulcer.