Evidence of venous stasis after abdominal insufflation for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Intraoperative venous stasis may increase the risk for perioperative deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. To determine if abdominal insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes venous stasis, eight patients undergoing this procedure had their left common femoral veins examined by a duplex scanner before and after abdominal insufflation; the veins then were examined again before and after deflation. The right femoral veins were catheterized to measure femoral venous pressures. Abdominal insufflation to 14 millimeters of mercury pressure increased femoral venous pressures (10.2 ± 4.1 millimeters of mercury to 18.2 ± 5.1 millimeters of mercury; p<0.001) and slowed peak blood velocities (24.9 ± 8.5 centimeters per second to 18.5 ± 4.5 centimeters per second; p<0.05) without changing the cross-sectional areas (1.1 ± 0.4 centimeter squared to 1.2 ± 1.5 centimeter squared; p=NS) of the common femoral veins. Insufflation also reduced or eliminated pulsatility in the common femoral veins in 75 percent of the patients, indicating that insufflation was causing partial proximal venous obstruction. After 80 ± 21 minutes of surgery, these changes remained significant. Deflation of the abdomen restored normal venous pulsatility in all patients, reduced femoral venous pressures (18.5 ± 5.2 millimeters of mercury to 12.2 ± 9.8 millimeters of mercury; p<0.001), increased the peak blood velocities (14.2 ± 6.8 centimeters per second to 28.1 ± 16 centimeters per second; p<0.05) and decreased the cross-sectional areas (1.4 ± 0.6 centimeters squared to 0.9 ± 0.4 centimeters squared; p<0.05) of the common femoral veins, indicating venous decompression had occurred. The results suggest abdominal insufflation causes venous stasis during laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Measures shown to reduce intraoperative venous stasis, such as pneumatic compressive stockings, may benefit patients undergoing these procedures.