Unheated CO₂ insufflation can result in hypothermia during an extended operation, but heated CO₂ may better preserve body temperature and arterial blood gas analysis.

Sixty-seven female patients scheduled for laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided to two groups. Group 1 (n = 37) and group 2 (n = 39) received unheated CO₂ or heated CO₂ during pneumoperitoneum, respectively. We compared body temperature and arterial blood gas parameters every 10 min or 15 min, respectively, during and after pneumoperitoneum and 30 min after postanesthesia care unit arrival.

There were no significant differences in demographic data, hemodynamic data, body temperature, and arterial blood gas parameters between the two groups.

Heated CO₂ insufflation during laparoscopy does not dramatically affect body temperature or arterial blood gas parameters in relatively short procedures without other methods such as warm saline irrigation and prewarming of extremities.