Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has emerged rapidly as a popular alternative to tradidonal laparotomy and cholecystectomy in the management of cholelithiasis. The advantages of shorter hospital stay, more rapid return to normal activities are combined with less pain associated with the small limited incisions. But it has some disadvantages related to insufflation of a large amount of carbon dioxide into peritoneal cavity.

To investigate ventilatory and hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we observed the changes in blood pressure (systole, diastole, mean), heart rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PerCO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension(PaCO2), and arterial oxygen tension(PaO2) at intervals during general anesthesia with controlled ventilation (tidal volume: 10 mg/kg, ventilatory rate: 10 breaths/min).

Mean arterial pressure was increased significantly until 30 minutes after carbon dioxide insufflation(p<0.05). Heart rate was not changed significantly throughout the operation. End-tidal carbon dioxide tension and arterial carbon dioxide tension were increased significantly during carbon dioxide insufflation(p<0.01), but arterial oxygen tension was not decreased significantly throughout the operation.

This study described 19 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and analyzed the changes in hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. It is important for anesthesiologist to monitor ventilation and hemodynamics carefully because the patients with cardiac or pulmonary diseases may be adversely affected by the hypercarbia associated with carbon dioxide insufflation.