Abstract
Background: Little is known about the role of the CO2 pneumoperitoneum on tumor cells that spread from the portal system into the liver during laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal malignancies. Therefore, we designed a study to investigate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on cancer cells implanted in the portal vein in a rabbit model.
Methods: Immediately after intraportal inoculation of 2.5 × 105 cells of VX2 cancer, the rabbits received either CO2 pneumoperitoneum at a pressure of 10 mmHg for 30 min (pneumoperitoneum group, n= 14) or laparotomy alone for 30 min (laparotomy group, n= 14).
Results: The number (p < 0.01) and area of cancer nodules (p= 0.045) on the liver surface on day 17 were greater in the pneumoperitoneum group than in the laparotomy group. The frequency of cancer nodules >3.0 mm in diameter was higher in the pneumoperitoneum group than in the laparotomy group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Compared with laparotomy, CO2 pneumoperitoneum enhanced the development of liver metastases in this experimental model.
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Received: 9 December 1998/Accepted: 3 April 1999
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Ishida, H., Murata, N., Yamada, H. et al. Pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide enhances liver metastases of cancer cells implanted into the portal vein in rabbits. Surg Endosc 14, 239–242 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004640000047
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004640000047