Gasless laparoscopy in abdominal surgery.

Pneumoperitoneum, as a necessary precondition of laparoscopic procedures, represents a restriction of the surgeon's freedom of movement and can lead to rare but typical complications. We describe our first experiences with laparoscopic surgery without using pneumoperitoneum. Under direct vision and digital control a fan-formed wall retractor, which is attached to an electric lift arm, is introduced into the abdominal cavity. After raising the abdominal wall, the scope is introduced through the same access and the laparoscopic procedure can be started without the technical and physiopathological problems which may occur using a pneumoperitoneum. In this gasless laparoscopic procedure, simple valveless trocars and instruments can be used. Furthermore, an unlimited suction can be obtained without a loss of exposure. During anesthesia, neither increased ventilation nor increased ventilation pressure is necessary, and the surgeon has increased freedom of action. Not only special laparoscopic instruments, but the conventional instruments, used in open surgery, can also be employed in gasless laparoscopy. In this way we performed gasless laparoscopic surgery on 54 patients: cholecystectomy (n = 37), abdominal exploration for NSAP (n = 5) or tumor staging (n = 4), fenestration of liver cysts (n = 5), and appendectomy (n = 3). We did observe three wound infections as related complications. Six times, we had to change the surgical procedure. Compared to the traditional procedure with a CO2 pneumoperitoneum, the results of the first gasless procedures demonstrate potential advantages.