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

Pneumoperitoneum means filling the abdominal cavity with gas so the surgeon gets room to work during laparoscopy. The question asks which gas is used for this.

1. Carbon dioxide: It does not burn, so it is safe near the electric cautery used in surgery. It also dissolves readily in blood, so if a little gets into a vessel by mistake the body clears it quickly. This is why it is the standard gas.
2. Oxygen: This gas actively supports burning, so using it next to cautery sparks risks a fire or explosion inside the patient. It is never used for this purpose.
3. Air: Air is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen barely dissolves in blood, so an accidental gas embolism with air is more dangerous and clears far more slowly than one with carbon dioxide.
4. Nitrous oxide: Though it does not burn on its own, it can support combustion when mixed with other surgical gases, so it is avoided as well.

Carbon dioxide is chosen because it is non-flammable and dissolves fast in blood, making it the safest option of the four.

Let's summarize:

• Non-flammable and highly blood soluble gases are safest for pneumoperitoneum.
• Oxygen, air, and nitrous oxide all fail one of these two requirements.

So carbon dioxide is the answer.