Feasibility and Efficacy of minimal flow anaesthesia in gynaecological laparoscopic surgery

Low-flow anesthesia (fresh gas flows less than 1 L/min) has several advantages, including preservation of heat and humidity of inspired gases, providing cost benefit and reduction of atmospheric pollution. The reduction of fresh gas flows (FGF) to 500 ml/min (known as minimal-flow anesthesia) would provide even more advantages of low-flow anaesthesia, but its conduct requires constant monitoring and vigilance. Several studies have established the safety as well as efficacy of low flow anaesthesia, however not much literature is available on the use of minimal flow anaesthesia during laparoscopic surgery. Ventilation during laparoscopic surgery poses challenges of its own, especially with more patients with higher BMI coming in for surgery. Therefore this observational study has been planned, so as to see if the benefits of minimal flow anaesthesia can be extended to laparoscopic surgery on a wider basis. This study aims to establish the feasibility of minimal gas flow anesthesia in adult females undergoing elective gynaecological laparoscopic surgery, who fall in ASA I and II classification, over a period of one year from the start of patient enrolment.