Question

Gas preferred for creating pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy is

• A. Carbon dioxide
• B. Oxygen
• C. Air
• D. Nitrous oxide

Hint:

Pick the gas that will not catch fire near the cautery and dissolves fast in blood if it leaks in.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand why a gas is needed at all.
In laparoscopy the surgeon needs space inside the abdomen to see and move instruments. The abdominal wall is lifted away from the organs by pumping gas into the peritoneal cavity, and this state is called pneumoperitoneum.

Step 2: Recall the properties the gas must have.
The ideal gas should not support combustion, since electrocautery is used during the surgery. It should also dissolve easily in blood so it can be cleared quickly and safely if it enters a blood vessel by accident.

Step 3: Apply this to carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide does not burn, is cheap, and is highly soluble in blood, so small amounts entering the circulation are absorbed and breathed out without much harm. This makes it the standard gas used worldwide for pneumoperitoneum.

Step 4: Rule out the other options.
Oxygen supports combustion, so it is dangerous next to electrocautery sparks and can cause a fire or explosion inside the abdomen. Air contains oxygen and nitrogen, nitrogen is poorly soluble in blood, so an air embolism from air would be more harmful and slower to clear than a carbon dioxide embolism. Nitrous oxide can support combustion in the presence of other agents and is also not preferred for this purpose.

Step 5: Final answer.
Carbon dioxide is the gas of choice for creating pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopy. \[ \boxed{\text{Carbon dioxide}} \]