Arterial Carbon Dioxide Markedly Increases During Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Portal Hypertensive Children

Several factors are responsible for hypercarbia during laparoscopic procedures. This study was undertaken because we observed a sudden increase in Paco2 in children with portal hypertension (PHT), which was unusual in healthy children undergoing laparoscopic procedures. Fifty-seven children underwent laparoscopic procedures under general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated. Arterial blood samples were obtained 5 min after intubation (T0), 15 min and 30 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum (T15 and T30), 5 min after desufflation (Tend), and 10 min after extubation (Text) for blood gas analysis. The changes in Paco2, pH, and ETco2 were statistically significant during the study periods in both groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of Paco2 increase between T0 and T15 was 11.5% and 20.1%, respectively, in the control group and the PHT group (P < 0.05). This increase reached 36.8% at T30 in the PHT group, whereas the control group had a 17.2% increase (P < 0.05). ETco2 presented similar changes. The variability in base excess, bicarbonate, Pao2, arterial oxygen saturation, and Spo2 was not significant in either group (P > 0.05). The Paco2 increased remarkably in children with PHT undergoing laparoscopy, with no difference in intrahepatic or extrahepatic origin. Limiting the duration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum and intraabdominal pressure and adjusting ventilatory variables to accommodate hypercarbia are of the utmost importance for such cases.