Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Comparative Study
Intraperitoneal gas insufflation will be required for laparoscopic visualization in space: a comparison of laparoscopic techniques in weightlessness.
Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is contemplated during long duration space flight, but it typically necessitates intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) from insufflation to create a surgical domain. Because there are spontaneous changes in abdominal wall behavior in weightlessness (0g) that have been previously suggested to increase LS visualization, we studied the comparative laparoscopic visualization between gasless (noGAS), abdominal wall retraction (AWR), and standard 15 mmHg gas insufflation (GAS) during weightlessness. ⋯ Both noGAS and AWR are impractical in weightlessness. Gas insufflation will be required. With insufflation, visualization and perceived ability to perform LS was improved by weightlessness.