Does the laparoscopic approach significantly affect cardiac functions in laparoscopic surgery? Pilot study in non-obese and morbidly obese patients

• Published in: Obesity surgery Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 293 - 296
• Main Authors: Fried, M, Krska, Z, Danzig, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01-06-2001
• Subjects: Adult; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Gastrointestinal surgery; Heart - physiopathology; Hemodynamics; Humans; Laparoscopy; Mortality; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - physiopathology; Pilot Projects; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial; Weight control
• ISSN: 0960-8923; 1708-0428
• DOI: 10.1381/096089201321336629

Laparoscopy in bariatric surgery represents a modern method generally associated with lower morbidity and mortality, compared with the traditional surgical approach. However, in patients with impaired cardiovascular function, the laparoscopic approach is limited by the potential adverse hemodynamic impact. We assessed the influence of some laparoscopic procedures on selected cardiac functions in significantly obese patients and in subjects with normal body weight, using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).
Six subjects with normal body weight (mean BMI 25.3 +/- 3.6 kg/m2), and six patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric banding for morbid obesity (mean BMI 45.8 +/- 7.5 kg/m2) were studied. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), ejection fraction, cardiac output (CO) and transmitral flow were measured. Parameters were recorded at baseline before the operation (BL), after installation of capnoperitoneum (CP), and after positioning the patient for surgery (SP).
Compared to BL, CP and SP were characterized by an increase in HR and BP in both groups of patients. As ejection fraction did not change significantly, the HR changes were accompanied by an increase in CO: (BL 5.8 +/- 2.2 l/min, CP 6.5 +/- 2.6 l/min, SP 6.7 +/- 2.7 l/min, p < 0.05 BL vs CP and SP). Transmitral flow parameters did not change significantly. Hemodynamic changes in subgroups with normal body build and in the obese patients were comparable. There was an increase in CO and pressure-rate product in obese individuals.
Our results suggest that the hemodynamic response to laparoscopic surgery is characterized by an increase in CO (due to increased HR) and BP. In subjects without a manifest cardiovascular disease, neither systolic nor diastolic performance was significantly affected by the introduction of capnoperitoneum and positioning of the patient for surgery. Similar results were observed in obese and non-obese subjects. Phase II of this on-going study is focusing on impact and safety of laparoscopy in obese patients with known cardiovascular disease.