Abstract
Laparoscopic technology has become popular amongst surgeons over recent years. However, carbon dioxide embolism is a fatal complication of laparoscopic hepatectomy that is aggravated when combined with low central venous pressure. Here we report a case of carbon dioxide embolism, which occurred due to a sudden rise in arterial blood CO2 pressure with decreased oxygen pressure saturation during the occlusion of hepatic veins in a laparoscopic hepatectomy combined with controlled low central venous pressure. Direct intravascular CO2 insufflation may be the primary cause. The enhanced pressure difference between the pneumoperitoneum pressure and the low central venous pressure may develop as a serious risk that urging the intravascular CO2 insufflation. Considering that maintenance of a low central venous pressure is widely employed in laparoscopic hepatectomy, anesthesiologists and surgeons should be careful with regard to complications, such as CO2 embolism. Altogether, this report may provide a reference to help avoid the abovementioned complications.
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Yang, M. Hypercarbia During Laparoscopic Hepatectomy. Indian J Surg 84 (Suppl 2), 431–433 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-022-03390-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-022-03390-8