4
42
2
SL Jaimerena y cols. COVID-19: método de filtrado de CO para cirugía laparoscópica. Rev Argent Cirug 2020;112(4):438-444
recommendaꢁons provided by the Asociación
Argenꢁna de Cirugía (AAC), the general guideline was
not to change the approach, unless the context of
the insꢁtuꢁon and the paꢁent determined so. Each
decision should be individualized and based on a
■
FIGURE 1
1
definiꢁve diagnosis .
In case of choosing the laparoscopic approach
due its advantages, the evidence of viral contaminaꢁon
and exposure of the staff during laparoscopy through
the generaꢁon of aerosols should be considered1,3.
The evidence of the risk of aerosolizaꢁon of viral
parꢁcles present in the pneumoperitoneum during a
laparoscopy is limited to a single experience with the
B
A
7
,8
hepaꢁꢁs B virus . Obviously, at present there is only
preliminary data available for SARS-CoV-2 and the
experiences reported are limited to case reports or
C
D
E
1
,3
case series .
Therefore, although there are no studies
A: twin-tube boꢃle. B: T-95 cannula. C: ETT connector size 7 or 6 ½. D:
elbow connector + syringe. E: HMFE filter.
focusedonthetransmissionofCOVID-19inlaparoscopic
surgery, it is of utmost importance to use carbon dioxide
1
-3
betweenthedistallimbofthefilterandaT-95cannula
Fig. 2B)connectedtoatwin-tubecontainer(Fig. 2C).
. The twin-tube underwater sealed boꢃle must
contain a soluꢁon of quaternary ammonium or
sodium hypochlorite (bleech) (Fig. 3 A).
. The twin-tube container should be connected to the
vacuum system (Fig. 3 B).
. If the container is not sealed and does not have a
non-return valve, a filtering device is necessary in
the vacuum system. An HMEF filter must be placed
between the container and the vacuum system (Figs.
filtering systems during the surgical procedure .
Carbon dioxide filtering systems have been
developed by several manufacturers. Although these
devices fulfill the requirements, their high cost, the
impossibility of reusing them and the difficult access
for our health care system made it necessary to look for
alternaꢁves with elements that are available in all the
operaꢁng rooms.
(
3
4
5
The filtering system was developed following
the recommendaꢁons established by the surgical
1
,2,4
associaꢁons , with accessible elements usually
4
A y B)
present in the operaꢁng room. This system can be
easily assembled at low cost and can be adapted to our 6. A trocar is used to insufflate carbon dioxide and
health situaꢁon. The system should be ready before the
paꢁent enters the operaꢁng room.
The following descripꢁon corresponds to the
system used in our insꢁtuꢁon.
another trocar is connected to the system for
evacuaꢁng gas previously described. A two-way
stopcock connected to the trocars coordinates
insufflaꢁon and evacuaꢁon.
The necessary elements are (Fig. 1):
7. If possible, new trocars (disposable or non-
disposable) or those in good condiꢁons should
be used to avoid unnecessary and accidental gas
leakage. According to the condiꢁons of the trocars
(and their valves) it is recommended to evacuate
carbon dioxide before removing or introducing
instruments.
1
2
3
4
. Twin-tube boꢃle
. T-63 cannula (for CO2 insufflaꢁon)
. T-95 cannula or similar
. HMEF filter (electrostaꢁc filter made up of charged
bipolar rectangular split fibers to capture airborne
parꢁcles). The composiꢁon of this material provides
a high resistance and guarantees a long life, without 8. An HMEF filter can be connected to the insufflaꢁon
significant degradaꢁon.
efficiency: > 99.999%/ > 99.9%
Bacterial/viral filter
system in case it lacks a non-return valve.
9. In addiꢁon to the carbon dioxide filtering system
described above, it is necessary to follow the general
5
6
. Endotracheal tube (ETT) connector size 7 or 6 ½.
. Elbow connector
recommendaꢁons for laparoscopic surgery in
suspected or confirmed COVID-19 paꢁents1
,4,6
.
This pneumoperitoneum filtering and
evacuaꢁon system consists of:
▪ Strict compliance with the use of personal protective
equipment (goggles, gloves, scrub hat, show covers,
N95 respirator, fluid resistant gown and disposable
hood)5
1
. A T-63 cannula (used for CO2 insufflaꢁon) (Fig. 2
A) connected to an HMEF bacterial/viral filter. An
endotracheal tube connector size 7 or 6 ½ may be
placed between them.
,9,10.
▪ Strict adherence to transportation routes and
circulation pathways of patients inside and
2
. An elbow or elbow-like connector can be fiꢃed