Does pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy increase bacterial translocation?
GROUND: To evaluate the impact of laparoscopy in the presence of peritonitis, this study was designed to assess bacteremia caused by E. coli-induced peritonitis with a carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in a rat model. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into inoculum groups (no E. coli, 10(6) colony-forming units [CFU] E. coli, and 10(8) CFU E. coli), followed by induction of a carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum or no pneumoperitoneum. Fifteen-minute-interval blood cultures were obtained to determine time of bacteremia development. Statistical assessment to determine significant differences among groups was done using ANOVA and t-test analysis. RESULTS: A total of 20 animals with E. coli introduced into the peritoneum and a carbon-dioxide-induced pneumoperitoneum had more frequent positive blood cultures at all time intervals compared to identical inoculum subgroups without a pneumoperitoneum. ANOVA revealed a significant difference in bacteremia within the same concentration in