The effect of heated humidified carbon dioxide on postoperative pain, core temperature, and recovery times in patients having laparoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of heated humidified carbon dioxide as insufflation gas during gynecologic laparoscopy reduced postoperative pain and hypothermia. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification 1). SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty women scheduled for gynecologic laparoscopy between 30 and 90 minutes' duration. INTERVENTIONS: Operative laparoscopic management of endometriosis, adhesions, or adnexal pathology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixty patients were randomized into either receiving heated humidified carbon dioxide (study group) or standard cold dry gas (control group). Intraoperative and postoperative core temperature, total analgesic use, postoperative nausea, and recovery room time were recorded. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using visual analog scale. Statistical analysis was performed using software. No significant difference was revealed between groups with regard to postoperative pain, analgesic requirements, recovery room time, or postoperative nausea. The control group had less postoperative hypothermia, suggesting that external warming blankets may be more effective than heated humidified gas at maintaining intraoperative normothermia. CONCLUSION: The use of heated humidified carbon dioxide insufflation for short-duration gynecologic laparoscopy up to 90 minutes' duration was not associated with any significant benefit with regard to postoperative pain, hypothermia, or time of recovery room stay.