Background: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration uses large volumes of intraperitoneal irrigation
fluid. Much of this fluid crosses the peritoneal cavity. This study was performed to examine
its effect on core body temperature.
Materials and Methods: Ten patients undergoing laparoscopic bile duct exploration were studied.
Core temperature was measured intraoperatively. Patients were covered with a warming blanket.
The volume of fluid irrigated, carbon dioxide used, and intravenous fluid infused were recorded.
Ten patients having cholecystectomy alone were studied as a control group.
Results: There was a small but significant rise in core temperature in both the study (P = 0.010)
and control (P = 0.002) groups. There was no significant difference in the change in core temperature
between the groups (P = 0.706).The mean volume of irrigation fluid used was 2640 mL in the
study group and 915 mL in the control group. Mean gas volume used was 162.9 L and 73.3 L and
the volume of intravenous fluid infused was 1620 mL and 1190 mL in the study and control groups,
respectively.
Conclusion: The use of large volumes of irrigation fluid during laparoscopic bile duct exploration
does not cause a fall in core temperature.
