Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
desufflation
Pronunciation: dee-suh-FLAY-shun
The controlled removal of CO₂ gas from the peritoneal cavity at the conclusion of laparoscopic surgery.
Full Definition
Desufflation is the process of evacuating carbon dioxide gas from the peritoneal cavity at the end of a laparoscopic procedure. This is typically performed by opening the trocar valves or using suction to remove residual gas before removing the trocars and closing the incisions. Complete desufflation is important to minimize postoperative shoulder pain caused by residual CO₂ irritating the diaphragm. Some surgeons use irrigation and manual expression techniques to ensure thorough gas removal. Patient positioning and gentle manual pressure can help facilitate complete desufflation.
In Context
- "Complete desufflation was performed with manual expression to minimize postoperative pain." — Operative report
- "The abdomen was irrigated and desufflated under direct visualization before trocar removal." — Surgical procedure note
Also known as
gas evacuation
CO₂ removal
deflation
Contrasted with
insufflation
pneumoperitoneum
Don't confuse with
deflation
decompression