Insufflators - Basics
| What does "Insufflator" mean? |
Inflate= to fill with air |
| What does it do? |
An insufflator inflates the abdominal cavities (like a balloon),
removes gas and smoke during laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. |
| Physiology |
Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery is used increasingly for exploratory
surgery, removing the gallbladder, hernia repair and obesity
reduction surgery. Three holes are punctured about a few centimetres
apart in a circle with a trocar. The holes are used for the
laparoscope, the forceps, light, insufflator inlet and suction.
This type of surgery has many advantages. It is much less invasive
than normal surgery therefore reducing blood loss, days in hospital,
permanent scaring, recovery time and the patient only needs
a local anaesthetic |
| How it works |
CO2 gas is used to pressurise abdominal cavities
in a very controlled way. CO2 high pressure gas is
regulated down from bottle pressure to a maximum of 25 mmHg.
The user sets the outlet pressure and flow of gas. During surgery
gas will leak out through the keyholes. The insufflator must
keep the pressure inside the cavity constant. The unit has many
safety features to prevent the abdominal pressure rising more
than 5 mmHg above the set value. The fail safe over pressure
valve prevents the abdominal pressure rising above 35 mmHg.
Some units are equipped with a suction outlet |
| Units of measurement |
Pressure: mmHg Flow: L/min |
| Typical values |
Safety valve pressure: 35 mmHg Operating pressure: 3 mmHg – 25 mmHg Flow rate: .5 – 35 L/min Excessive: 5 mmHg above set pressure Suction: Max 40 L/min |
| Picture of equipment |
|
Picture supplied by WISAP: 7083 Hi-Flow Insufflator with gas preheating and max flow up to 45 L/min |
