Laparoscopy can aggravate the severity of pancreatitis in an experimental rat model.

Purpose: Over the past decade, laparoscopic techniques have markedly evolved, and it has been shown that minimally invasive surgery can provide a safe, effective, and less traumatic management of various surgical diseases. Additionally, it is well known that pancreatitis itself also produced severe oxidative tissue injury by increasing levels of reactive oxygen species. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of pneumoperitoneum on the severity of pancreatitis in a rat model of acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups with seven rats in each. Experimental pancreatitis was induced using intraperitoneal injection of cerulein. The first group received open laparotomy. Groups 2-5 were treated with 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm Hg, respectively, achieved by applying pressure and waiting for 60 minutes. After this waiting interval, all of the rats were sacrificed; blood samples were taken by intracardiac puncture for biochemical assays, and pancreatic tissue samples were taken for light microscope analysis. Histopathology was scored according to edema, granulation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and mononuclear cells in all groups.

Results: Great increases in malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels were seen in all of the groups in which pancreatitis was induced. In Group 2-5, more significant increases were detected than in the open laparotomy group (P<.005). In the histopathological examination, Groups 2-5 showed more inflammatory cell infiltration, edema, and granulation tissue than the open laparotomy group (P<.005).

Conclusions: It is useful to remember the parameters of the medical treatment of pancreatitis. While surgical treatment is being decided, we think that the process of all kinds of surgery, including laparoscopic surgery, can increase the severity of pancreatitis.