U.S. patent application number 13/582866 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for gas conditioning.
Invention is credited to Leila Adamyan, Karina Mailova.
Application Number | 20120330224 13/582866 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42136530 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120330224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mailova; Karina ; et
al. |
December 27, 2012 |
GAS CONDITIONING
Abstract
A compound for the manufacturing of a medicament for reducing or
preventing mesothelial cell damage includes a mixture of a carrier
gas and between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent of nitrous
oxide gas (N.sub.2O) and can be used for prevention of adhesion
formation, pain reduction, reducing or preventing acute
inflammation, reducing or preventing CO.sub.2 resorbtion or
reducing tumor cell implantation upon surgery.
Inventors: |
Mailova; Karina; (Moscow,
RU) ; Adamyan; Leila; (Moscow, RU) |
Family ID: |
42136530 |
Appl. No.: |
13/582866 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
March 7, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/053405 |
371 Date: |
September 5, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/24 ;
424/718 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 33/00 20130101;
A61M 16/16 20130101; A61M 2016/102 20130101; A61K 47/02 20130101;
A61P 41/00 20180101; A61M 2202/0225 20130101; A61M 2202/0208
20130101; A61P 25/04 20180101; A61M 16/12 20130101; A61M 2202/0283
20130101; A61M 16/1075 20130101; A61P 29/00 20180101; A61M 13/003
20130101; A61M 13/006 20140204; A61M 16/161 20140204; A61M
2202/0468 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/24 ;
424/718 |
International
Class: |
A61K 33/00 20060101
A61K033/00; A61P 29/00 20060101 A61P029/00; A61M 13/00 20060101
A61M013/00; A61P 25/04 20060101 A61P025/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 5, 2010 |
GB |
1003682.0 |
Claims
1-31. (canceled)
32. Use of a mixture of a carrier gas and nitrous oxide gas, the
nitrous oxide gas being between 1 volume percent and 29 volume
percent, for the manufacture of a medicament for reducing or
preventing mesothelial cell damage.
33. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing
mesothelial cell damage during surgery in a cavity by flowing the
medicament in or over the cavity.
34. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing
mesothelial cell damage by or during pneumoperitoneum or for flow
over a body during open surgery.
35. Use according to claim 32, wherein the mixture comprises
between 5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas.
36. Use according to claim 32, wherein the mixture furthermore
comprises between 1 and 10 volume percentage of oxygen gas.
37. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing adhesion
formation.
38. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing pain.
39. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing acute
inflammation.
40. Use according to claim 32 for reducing or preventing CO.sub.2
resorbtion.
41. Use according to claim 32 for tumor implantation reduction.
42. Use according to claim 32, wherein the carrier gas is carbon
dioxide gas and/or wherein the solubility of the carrier gas is
larger than 0.5 g/l in water.
43. A conditioning system for use in surgery, comprising a gas
supply system comprising a gas supplying means arranged to provide
a mixture of gas in or over a cavity wherein surgery is performed,
the gas supply system providing a mixture of gas for use in
surgery, wherein the gas supply system supplies gas mixtures
comprising a carrier gas and between 1 volume percent and 29 volume
percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).
44. A conditioning system according to claim 43, the gas supplying
means comprising an endoscopic insufflation means supplying the gas
mixture as pneumoperitoneum.
45. A conditioning system according to claim 43, wherein the gas
supplying means comprises a gas location means comprising
upstanding walls that maintain the gas mixture at the cavity
wherein surgery is performed and/or wherein the gas supplying means
is arranged to supply gas mixtures comprising between 5 and 20
volume percentage nitrous oxide gas and/or wherein the gas
supplying means is arranged to provide between 1 and 10 volume
percentage oxygen gas and/or wherein the gas supplying means
comprises a mixing unit that mixes individual gasses from
individual gas supplies and/or wherein the gas supplying means
comprises an aspiration device that removes gases from a living
creature and/or from a surgical area.
46. A conditioning system according to claim 43, wherein the
carrier gas is carbon dioxide.
47. A conditioning system according to claim 43, wherein the gas
supplying means comprises a moistener that moistens the gas mixture
and/or wherein the conditioning system comprises a sprinkler that
directly moistens the cavity.
48. A conditioning system according claim 43, wherein the gas
supplying means comprises a heating and/or cooling device that
controls the temperature of the gas mixture.
49. A conditioning system according to claim 43, wherein the gas
supplying means comprises a controller programmed to supply the gas
mixture and/or wherein the gas supplying means comprises a
controller programmed to initially provide a gas or gas mixture
comprising the carrier gas but no nitrous oxide gas and to increase
the nitrous oxide gas concentration thereafter to supply the gas
mixture, and/or wherein the gas supplying means comprises a
controller programmed to control a ratio nitrous oxide gas to
carrier gas in the mixture, and/or wherein the gas supplying means
comprises a controller programmed to control the ratio nitrous
oxide gas to carrier gas in the mixture according to a
predetermined dynamic ratio, and/or wherein the gas supplying means
comprises a controller programmed to provide between 1 and 10
volume percentage oxygen gas, and/or wherein the gas supplying
means comprises a controller programmed to control the temperature
of the gas mixture and/or humidity of the cavity.
50. A conditioning system according to claim 43, the conditioning
means furthermore comprising any of a ROS scavenger providing
means, a calcium channel blockers and phospholipids providing
means, a dexamethasone providing means, a barrier gel providing
means or a means for providing anti-angeiongic factors or
fibroblast manipulation means.
51. A conditioning system according to claim 43, wherein the
conditioning system is arranged to distribute a medicine, drug or
chemical through a sprinkler
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to products and systems for
operation trauma prevention or reduction. More particularly, the
present invention relates to compounds, e.g. for use as a
pneumoperitoneum and/or gas for flowing over a body part during
surgery, to systems controlling the use thereof and to methods of
using such compounds or systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In order to perform a laparoscopy the abdomen, which is a
virtual cavity, has to be insufflated in order to create a working
space. Insufflation pressure is limited to 15 mm of Hg out of fear
of gas embolism , although this limit has not been substantiated
clinically. CO.sub.2 has been traditionally used as a gas for the
pneumoperitoneum out of safety concerns. Indeed CO.sub.2 has a high
solubility in water and an high exchange capacity in the lungs.
Therefore the risk of a gas embolism causing a hearth tamponnade
should be minimal.
[0003] During laparoscopic surgery some flow through the abdominal
cavity is necessary in order to evacuate smoke generated by the use
of electro-surgery or of a CO2 laser. Especially the high flows
used together with a CO2 laser, can induce important uncontrolled
desiccation and temperature alterations in the abdominal
cavity.
[0004] During open surgery, the abdominal content is directly
exposed to the air with important desiccation and exposure of the
superficial cells to 20% of oxygen, proven to be toxic for the
mesothelial cell layer. In addition, during open surgery
manipulation of bowels is more important than during laparoscopy.
During open surgery the abdominal cavity is exposed to the ambient
temperature.
[0005] During surgery, both laparoscopy and laparotomy, the
mesothelial cells and the peritoneal cavity thus are exposed to a
series of traumas such as mechanical trauma, cellular hypoxia (ie a
partial pressure of oxygen less than 7 mm Hg or less than 1% of
oxygen at atmospheric pressure) or hyperoxia, (i.e. a partial
pressure of oxygen more than 70 mm Hg or more than 10% of oxygen at
atmospheric pressure) and desiccation. The effects of these
trauma's upon the mesothelial cells are additive Simultaneously
surgery can be associated with important temperature changes of the
cells, a decrease of temperature being rather beneficial by making
cells more resistant to trauma. It is to be noticed that surgical
interventions in the human occasionally may be very long
interventions.
[0006] Adhesions following surgery are clinically important and
cause suffering to the patients and a burden for the cost of health
care. Adhesions form in the majority of men and women after surgery
both after laparotomy and after laparoscopy. For example, following
abdominal surgery both by laparotomy and by laparoscopy, adhesions
form in over 70% of women. The clinical impact can best be
illustrated as follows. Postoperative adhesions are estimated to be
responsible for 30% of all chronic abdominal pain, for 30% of all
infertility and for over 90% of all bowel obstructions. After
abdominal surgery the incidence of reoperation and of bowel
obstruction keeps rising almost linearly for at least 10 years.
Re-interventions occur in some 30%, in many persons more than once,
and at least 6% are linked directly to adhesion formation. Repeat
surgery moreover is more difficult, more tedious and associated
with more complications because of adhesions. From these findings,
models have been constructed indicating an enormous cost of
adhesions formation for society besides the cost of suffering of
the individuals.
[0007] Adhesion formation between opposing injured peritoneal
surfaces are acknowledged to be different from adhesion reformation
following lysis of adhesions and from de novo adhesion formation
outside the areas of surgery. Only prevention of adhesion formation
has been investigated adequately. Clinical adhesion prevention in
the human until today has been based upon the classic model of
adhesion formation, i.e. describing adhesion as a local process
between two opposing lesions.
[0008] Good surgical practice and gentle tissue handling were
suggested as important by the pioneers of microsurgery. This
comprised, moistening of tissues by continuous irrigation and
minimal mechanical trauma. Besides good surgical practice, adhesion
prevention in the human has been limited to barriers and flotation
agents with a reduction of adhesion formation that ranges for all
products between 40% to 50%. It is important to note that for none
of these products efficacy has been proven for endpoints that
really matter, i.e. pain, infertility, bowel obstruction or
reoperation rate. This can be explained by the high
intra-individual variability, and the variability in surgical
interventions which make adequate randomized clinical trials
prohibitively large.
[0009] Sheet barriers such as Seprafilm (Hyaluronic
acid-carboxymethylcellulose), Interceed (Oxidized regenerated
cellulose) and Gore-tex(Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) are
proven effective but did not become very popular for various
reasons. Seprafilm is difficult to use during laparoscopy whereas
to be efficacious any remaining bleeding of the traumatized area
should be avoided.
[0010] Since Intergel (0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel) has been
withdrawn from the market, only Hyalobarrier gel(Auto-cross linked
hyaluronic acid gel), Spraygel (Polyethylenglycol) and
Intercoat/Oxiplex remain available for clinical use. Overall
efficacy appears to be similar for all 3 products. A comparison
between these 3 gels can unfortunately not be made since
comparative trials do not exist.
[0011] Whereas in the human the efficacy of Ringers lactate as a
flotation agent has not been proven, Adept,(Icodextrin) a
macromolecular sugar with a higher retention time in the peritoneal
cavity, was expected and shown to be efficacious in adhesion
reduction. A major advantage is the safety and absence of side
effects, which were well established since extensively used for
peritoneal dialysis. The strength of the available evidence
demonstrating efficacy, is in a Cochrane review not considered very
solid.
[0012] It is beyond the scope of this application to discuss in
detail the specificities of the animal models. The most
comprehensive model today is the laparoscopic mouse model since
most of the available products and the role of the peritoneal
cavity have been investigated in detail. In this model it was
demonstrated that gentle tissue handling and the conditioning of
the pneumoperitoneum were the first and quantitatively the most
important steps in adhesion prevention. It was demonstrated that
adhesions could be decreased by humidification, by preventing
mesothelial hypoxia by adding some 4% of oxygen to the CO.sub.2
pneumoperitoneum, and by cooling slightly the peritoneal cavity. In
this model, dexamethasone further decreased adhesions, whereas
anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID's, COX1, COX2 inhibitors) and
anti-TNFa monoclonals were close to ineffective.
[0013] In the mouse laparoscopic model it was equally demonstrated
that adding more than 10% of oxygen to the CO.sub.2
pneumoperitoneum increased adhesion formation, probably through the
formation of ROS, an increase that could be diminished by
decreasing the partial oxygen pressure to the normal physiologic
partial pressure in peripheral cells ie between 20 and 40 mm of Hg
partial oxygen (pO2) pressure.
[0014] The addition of oxygen to the pneumoperitoneum for reduction
of adhesion formation has been described in WO98/50064. It has been
demonstrated with CO.sub.2 as carrier gas. He and N.sub.2O were
suggested as alternative carrier gasses.
[0015] Prevention of angiogenesis, a consequence of hypoxia also
reduces adhesion formation, as demonstrated in PIGF knockout mice
and by the administration of anti VEGF and anti PIGF monoclonal
antibodies.
[0016] By way of illustration, FIG. 1 indicates the effect of
prevention of adhesion formation in a laparoscopic mouse model as
known in 2008. Minimizing mesothelial damage by preventing
desiccation, gentle tissue handling, adding oxygen and cooling
decrease adhesion formation by some 75%. Adhesions can decrease
further by adding Reactive Oxygen Scavengers (ROS), calcium channel
blockers, phospholipids or dexamethasone. In addition Barrier gels,
as used in the human, can be used achieving over 90% adhesion
reduction. If in this model calcium channel blockers,
phospholipids, anti-angiogenic monoclonals and fibroblast
manipulation would have additional effects possibly reducing
adhesion reduction by close to 100%.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to
provide good products and systems or methods for using such
products for assisting in surgery.
[0018] It is an advantage of at least some embodiments according to
the present invention that these provide an efficient manner for
reducing operative trauma, allowing reduction of the number of
prevention means required.
[0019] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that products, systems and methods are provided allowing
reduction or even prevention of adhesion formation.
[0020] It is an advantage of at least some embodiments according to
the present invention that products, systems and/or methods are
provided that reduce operative trauma. It is an advantage of at
least some embodiments that inflammation of the peritoneal cavity
can be reduced.
[0021] It is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the
present invention that postoperative pain and/or morbidity can be
reduced, compared with use of conventional pneumoperitoneum or open
surgery.
[0022] The above objective is accomplished by a method and device
according to the present invention.
[0023] The present invention relates to the use of a mixture of a
carrier gas and nitrous oxide gas, the nitrous oxide gas being
between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent, for the manufacture
of a medicament for reducing or preventing mesothelial cell
damage.
[0024] The use may be for reducing or preventing mesothelial cell
damage during surgery in a cavity by flowing the medicament in or
over the cavity. The use may be for reducing or preventing
mesothelial cell damage by or during pneumoperitoneum or for flow
over a body during open surgery.
[0025] The mixture may comprise between 5 and 20 volume percentage
nitrous oxide gas, e.g. between 5 and 10 volume percentage nitrous
oxide.
[0026] The mixture furthermore may comprise between 1 and 10 volume
percentage of oxygen gas. [0027] The use may be for reducing or
preventing adhesion formation. [0028] The use may be for reducing
or preventing pain. [0029] The use may be for reducing or
preventing acute inflammation. [0030] The use may be for reducing
or preventing CO.sub.2 resorbtion. [0031] The use may be for tumor
implantation reduction. [0032] The carrier gas may be carbon
dioxide gas. [0033] The solubility of the carrier gas may be larger
than 0.5 g/l in water. [0034] The present invention also relates to
the use of a compound comprising a mixture of a carrier gas and
between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas
(N.sub.2O) for the manufacture of a medicament for reducing or
preventing adhesion formation. [0035] The use may be for the
manufacturing of a medicament for reducing or preventing adhesion
formation by or during pneumoperitoneum or for flooding of flowing
over a body cavity or surface during open surgery. [0036] The
compound may comprise between 5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous
oxide gas, more preferably between 5 and 10 volume percentage
nitrous oxide gas. [0037] The compound may furthermore comprise
between 1 and 10 volume percentage oxygen gas. [0038] The present
invention also relates to conditioning system for use in surgery,
the gas supply system comprising a gas supplying means adapted for
providing a mixture of gas in or over a cavity wherein surgery is
performed, the gas supply system being adapted for providing a
mixture of gas using for use in surgery, characterized in that the
gas supply system is designed to supply gas mixtures comprising a
carrier gas and between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent
nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).
[0039] The gas supplying means may be an endoscopic insufflation
means for supplying the gas mixture as pneumoperitoneum.
[0040] The gas supplying means may comprise a gas location means
comprising upstanding walls for maintaining the gas mixture at the
cavity wherein surgery is performed.
[0041] The gas supply system may be designed to supply gas mixtures
comprising between 5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas.
[0042] The carrier gas may be carbon dioxide.
[0043] The gas supplying means may be designed to provide between 1
and 10 volume percentage oxygen gas.
[0044] The gas supplying means may comprise a mixing unit for
mixing individual gasses from individual gas supplies.
[0045] The gas supplying means may comprise a moistening means for
moistening the gas mixture. [0046] The conditioning means may
comprise a sprinkler for directly moistening the cavity. The
sprinkler may be separate from the moistening means for moistening
the gas mixture. The conditioning system may be adapted for
distributing a medicine, drug or chemical through the
sprinkler.
[0047] The gas supplying means may comprise a heating and/or
cooling means for controlling the temperature of the gas
mixture.
[0048] The gas supplying means may comprise a controller for system
comprises a controller being programmed for supplying the gas
mixture.
[0049] The controller may be programmed for initially providing a
gas or gas mixture comprising the carrier gas but no nitrous oxide
gas and for increasing the nitrous oxide gas concentration
thereafter to supply the gas mixture.
[0050] The controller furthermore may be programmed for controlling
the ratio nitrous oxide gas to carrier gas in the mixture.
[0051] The controller furthermore may be programmed for controlling
the ratio nitrous oxide gas to carrier gas in the mixture according
to a predetermined dynamic ratio.
[0052] The gas supplying means may comprise an aspiration means for
removing gases from a living creature and/or from a surgical
area.
[0053] The controller furthermore may be programmed for providing
between 1 and 10 volume percentage oxygen gas.
[0054] The controller furthermore may be adapted for controlling
the temperature of the gas mixture and/or humidity of the
cavity.
[0055] The conditioning means furthermore may comprise any of a ROS
scavenger providing means, a calcium channel blockers and
phospholipids providing means, a dexamethasone providing means, a
barrier gel providing means or a means for providing
anti-angeiongic factors or fibroblast manipulation means. The
present invention relates to a compound for use in surgery, the
compound comprising a mixture of a carrier gas and between 1 volume
percent and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O). It is
an advantage of embodiments according to the present invention that
addition of nitrous oxide gas results in the reduction of operative
trauma. It is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the
present invention that reduction of adhesion formation can be
obtained. The compound may comprise between 5 and 29 volume
percentage nitrous oxide gas, e.g. between 5 and 20 volume
percentage nitrous oxide gas, e.g. between 5 and 10 volume
percentage nitrous oxide gas. It is an advantage of embodiments
according to the present invention that only a limited amount of
nitrous oxide gas is required, as nitrous oxide gas carries a
potential explosion risk when used in concentrations higher than
29%. Considering the risk of gas embolism nitrous oxide moreover is
safe considering its high solubility comparable to CO.sub.2 in
water (solubility of 1.5 and 1.45 g/l for N2O and CO2
respectively). It has been found that N.sub.2O concentration
advantageously is at least 5 volume percentage as for
concentrations lower than 5 volume percentage effects of adhesion
prevention are less pronounced, e.g. using 3 volume percentage of
N.sub.2O in the pneumoperitoneum resulted in about 70%
effectiveness and using 1 volume percentage of N.sub.2O resulted in
about 50% effectiveness. It is an advantage of embodiments
according to the present invention that the use of a gas mixture
comprising between 1% to 29% N.sub.2O results in adhesion
prevention, pain reduction and other advantageous effects in the
first days after surgery.
[0056] The compound furthermore may comprise between 1 and 10
volume percentage oxygen. It is an advantage of embodiments
according to the present invention that also oxygen gas can be
added to the gas mixture, as oxygen gas provides an additive effect
in prevention or reduction of adhesion formation. Oxygen however
has a very low solubility of 0.0391 g/l in water.
[0057] The compound may be a pneumoperitoneum.
[0058] The compound may be a gas reducing or preventing adhesion
formation.
[0059] The carrier gas may be carbon dioxide gas.
[0060] The compound may have a carrier gas having a solubility
larger than 0.5 g/l in water.
[0061] The compound may be a medicament or a basis therefore.
[0062] The present invention also relates to a controller for
controlling a gas supply system, the controller being programmed
for supplying a mixture of a carrier gas and between 1 volume
percent and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O). The
controller may be programmed for supplying the mixture with between
5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas, more preferably
between 5 and 10 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas. The
controller may be programmed for initially providing a gas or gas
mixture comprising the carrier gas but no nitrous oxide gas and for
increasing the nitrous oxide gas concentration thereafter to supply
the gas mixture. It is an advantage of embodiments according to the
present invention that first a good soluble gas may be used for
insufflation in order to prevent gas embolism, where after nitrous
oxide gas can be introduced, either after a predetermined time or
upon activation of the user of the system. The controller
furthermore may be programmed for controlling the ratio nitrous
oxide gas to carrier gas in the mixture. The controller furthermore
may be programmed for controlling the ratio nitrous oxide gas to
carrier gas in the mixture according to a predetermined dynamic
ratio. The controller furthermore may be programmed for providing
between 1 and 10 volume percentage oxygen gas. The controller
furthermore may be adapted for controlling the temperature of the
gas mixture. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present
invention that temperature control can easily be taken into
account, as temperature is a further factor that may assist in the
prevention or reduction of adhesion formation. The controller
furthermore may be adapted for in addition humidification of the
gas mixture. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present
invention that humidification control can easily be taken into
account, as also humidification is a further factor that may assist
in the prevention or reduction of adhesion formation.
[0063] The present invention also relates to a gas supply system
for supplying gas, the gas supply system comprising a gas supplying
means for providing a mixture of gas for use in surgery,
characterized in that the gas supply system is designed to supply
gas mixtures comprising a carrier gas and between 1 volume percent
and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).The gas supply
system may be designed to supply gas mixtures comprising between 5
and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas, more preferably between
5 and 10 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas. The carrier gas may
be carbon dioxide. The gas supply system may be designed to provide
between 1 and 10 volume percentage oxygen gas. The gas supply
system may comprise a mixing unit for mixing individual gasses from
individual gas supplies. The gas supply system may comprise a
moistening means for moistening the gas mixture. The gas supply
system may comprise a heating and/or cooling means for controlling
the temperature of the gas mixture. The gas supply system may
comprise a controller as described above. The gas supply system may
comprise an endoscopic insufflation means for supplying the gas
mixture as pneumoperitoneum. The gas supply system may comprise an
aspiration device for removing gases from the body and optionally
also from the operation area.
[0064] A method for reducing or preventing mesothelial cell damage,
e.g. for reducing or preventing adhesion formation or e.g. reducing
or preventing mesothelial cell damage by or during pneumoperitoneum
or for flow over a body during open surgery, or e.g. reducing or
preventing pain, or reducing or preventing acute inflammation, e.g.
or reducing or preventing CO.sub.2 resorbtion, by using a compound
comprising a mixture of carrier gas and between 1 volume percent
and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).The method may
be using the gas mixture by or during pneumoperitoneum or during
open surgery. The method may be using the gas mixture as
insufflating gas, in which the gas mixture comprises between 5 and
20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas, more preferably between 5
and 10 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas. The method may be by
using a gas mixture furthermore comprising between 1 and 10 volume
percentage oxygen gas.
[0065] The method may comprise administering the compound to a
living creature in need of an adhesion reduction or preventing
treatment. The method furthermore may comprise at least one of
providing cooling, providing ROS scavengers, providing calcium
channel blockers and phospholipids, providing dexamethasone,
providing barrier gels and providing anti-angiongenic factors or
fibroblast manipulation.
[0066] The present invention also relates to a method for reducing
or preventing adhesion formation in open surgery by using a
compound comprising a mixture of carrier gas and between 1 volume
percent and 29 volume percent nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O) and/or
between 1 volume percent and 10 volume percent oxygen gas.
[0067] The present invention also relates to a method for reducing
tumor implantation by using a compound comprising a mixture of
carrier gas and between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent
nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).
[0068] The present invention also relates to a method for applying
anesthesia to a living creature, the method comprising providing
anesthetic compound for blocking sensation in a living creature,
wherein providing anesthetic compound comprises adjusting a doses
of the anesthetic compound taking into account the provision of a
mixture comprising between 1 volume percent and 29 volume percent
of nitrous oxide gas by or during pneumoperitoneum or during open
surgery for adhesion prevention.
[0069] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that N.sub.2O at low concentrations is virtually without
side effects and that it is a gas known and used in medicine.
[0070] Particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set
out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features
from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the
independent claims and with features of other dependent claims as
appropriate and not merely as explicitly set out in the claims.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and
elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0071] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of methods and techniques for
prevention of adhesion formation as used in prior art, the overview
indicating the obtained adhesion formation prevention in a
laparoscopic mouse model.
[0072] FIG. 2 illustrates a first model for explaining adhesion
formation, illustrating principles assumed for adhesion formation
which can be reduced using embodiments of the present
invention.
[0073] FIG. 3 illustrates an updated model compared to FIG. 2 for
explaining adhesion formation, illustrating principles assumed for
adhesion formation which can be reduced using embodiments of the
present invention.
[0074] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a system for using N.sub.2O
gas as component in a compound, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0075] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate experimental results for
clinical trials on the use of pneumoperitoneum under conditioning
according to an embodiments of the present invention.
[0076] The drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the
drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and
not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0077] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is
made to nitrous oxide gas, also known as happy gas or laughing gas,
reference is made to the chemical compound having the chemical
formula N.sub.2O. At room temperature, it is a colorless
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas.
[0078] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is
made to gas that is introduced in a cavity of the body of a living
creature lined by a mesothelium reference is made to the abdominal
cavity, the pericardium and the lung pleura of an animal or human
being. More particularly, in embodiments of the present invention,
reference is made to gas that is deliberately created, e.g. by the
surgical team, for insufflating a cavity of the body of a living
creature, e.g. the abdomen, and to gas that is deliberately
introduced in during laparotomy or laparoscopy or over the body of
a living creature during open surgery for removing environmental
air or unwanted gas present.
[0079] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is
made to laparotomy, reference is made to a surgical procedure
involving an incision through the wall of the cavity, e.g. the
abdominal wall, to gain access into the abdominal cavity. Where in
embodiments of the present invention reference is made to
laparoscopy, reference is made to an operation performed with the
aid of an endoscope and a camera e.g. in the abdomen or pelvis
through small incisions.
[0080] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is
made to open surgery, reference is made to surgery whereby large
incisions are made, so that surgery can be performed without the
aid of a camera and/or endoscope.
[0081] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is
made to a compound, the latter includes the combination of the
products described with gels, e.g. for use in endoscopy.
[0082] Embodiments of the present invention relate to products,
also referred to as compounds, e.g. pneumoperitoneum products, and
systems and methods using such products, e.g. pneumoperitoneum
products, for assisting in surgery. It is an advantage of
embodiments according to the present invention that a reduction of
adhesion can be obtained, compared to the currently used
techniques. Although the exact process of adhesion formation still
seems unclear, by way of illustration, some principles on which
adhesion formation could be based are provided. Mesothelial cells
form a monolayer resting on a basal membrane and an underlying
connective tissue lining the organs and the wall of the abdominal
cavity, of the pleura and of the pericardium. While the exact
origin of mesothelial cells remains debated they remain crucially
important for peritoneal repair and of adhesion formation. The
roles of mesothelial cells in maintaining normal serosal membrane
integrity and function is still only partially understood. They
secrete glycosaminoglycans and surfactant to allow the parietal and
visceral serosa to slide over each other. They actively transport
fluids, cells and particulates across the serosal membrane and
actively modulate gas resorbtion as CO.sub.2 e.g. from the
pneumoperitoneum. They synthesize and secrete mediators which play
important roles in the inflammatory, immune and tissue repair
responses. The peritoneal cavity contains fluid which should be
considered a specific micro-environment with protein and hormone
concentrations which are much different from plasma.
[0083] When the mesothelial cell becomes traumatized for example by
hypoxia during CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum, the large flat
mesothelial cell retracts, known as `bulging of cells`, and the
highly specialized layer of contiguous peritoneal cells is
transformed into a layer of individual cells and between these
cells large areas of basal membrane is directly exposed. Similar
effects are believed to occur in response to all types of trauma
such as dessication, mechanical or chemical trauma. The consequence
of this effect will affect at least transport of substances which
transport is actively regulated by the mesothelium layer such as
the resorbtion of CO.sub.2 from the pneumoperitoneum. Diffusion of
larger molecules probably is greatly enhanced.
[0084] According to a classic model of adhesion formation, as shown
in FIG. 2, a trauma of the peritoneum is followed by a local
inflammatory reaction, exudation and fibrin deposition. This fibrin
is normally rapidly removed by fibrinolysis while simultaneously
the peritoneal repair process is started. Within hours after
injury, the injured area is covered by what is believed macrophages
and `tissue repair cells, which within 3 to 4 days differentiate
into mesenchymal cells. Repair starts specifically from numerous
small islands and the repair of small and large areas therefore is
similar. If the normal rapid repair of peritoneal lesions fails or
when repair is delayed other processes which also were activated
become dominant.
[0085] Within 4 to 6 days fibroblast proliferation invading the
fibrin scaffold and angiogenesis start, leading invariably to
adhesion formation. The importance of the fibrin scaffold between 2
injured surfaces was elegantly demonstrated since separating these
areas by silastic membranes for up to 30 hours abolished adhesion
formation. This type of experiments, reinforced the belief that
adhesion formation is a local process and that prevention should
aim at separating the surfaces for at least to 2 days. Medical
treatment given intravenously or intraperitoneally is considered
less important since this type of treatment would have difficulties
to reach the injured zone because of local ischemia and since it is
shielded by the fibrin plug. The pathophysiology of this local
process has been considered an inflammatory reaction, with players
and mechanisms as fibrinolysis, plasmin activation and PAI's ,
local macrophages and their secretion products and the overall
oxygenation of the area or the absence thereof, driving
angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation and mesothelial repair.
[0086] Little is known about the mechanisms which determine whether
adhesions will be velamentous, thick and or vascularised and which
factors determine innervations. Also adhesion remodeling is
something which is poorly understood.
[0087] During the last decade evidence has accumulated that the
entire peritoneal cavity is a cofactor in adhesion formation, which
has resulted in an updated model, as indicated in FIG. 3.
Identified so far in laparoscopic rabbit and mouse models for
adhesion formation are dessication, hypoxia, reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and manipulation which cause inflammation of the
entire peritoneal cavity and increase adhesion formation at the
injured area.
[0088] CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum may induce mesothelial hypoxia,
retraction of mesothelial cells exposing directly the extracellular
matrix, the attraction into peritoneal fluid of substances or
cellular elements, that enhance adhesion formation and/or decrease
repair. Although one might argue that these factors as hypoxia,
hyperoxia and dessication, also affect the injured site the
observation that manipulation in the upper abdomen only, also
increases adhesions with inflammation of the entire cavity
demonstrates that the entire peritoneal cavity can be a cofactor in
adhesion formation.
[0089] The trauma caused mechanically by manipulation or through
hypoxia, hyperoxia and ROS, and dessication, all cause an
inflammatory reaction not only at the level of the lesions but of
the entire peritoneal cavity. This inflammatory reaction must
increase mediators in peritoneal fluid enhancing adhesion
formation. The pathophysiology of some factors have been well
demonstrated, as the mesothelial hypoxia by pure CO.sub.2
pneumoperitoneum. Indeed, whereas the mesothelial layer stains
hypoxic, the increase in adhesions is prevented by the addition of
3-4% of oxygen (restoring the physiologic intraperitoneal partial
oxygen pressure of 30 to 40 mm Hg), and the effect is absent in
mice partially deficient for HIF1a (hypoxia inducible factor) and
in HIF2a the hypoxemia response factors being the first to be
activated by hypoxia.
[0090] The classic model that views adhesion formation as a local
phenomenon, enhanced or modulated by factors from the entire
peritoneal cavity may be considered as complementary. The
peritoneal cavity may be an important cofactor in adhesion
formation. It has been found that compared to the adhesions that
form after an opposing surgical lesion only, CO.sub.2
pneumoperitoneum may increase adhesions five fold through
mesothelial hypoxia, and if used together with bowel manipulation
adhesions increase up to 20 times. Recent experiments on acute
inflammation moreover have confirmed that a surgical lesion is
necessary to initiate adhesions, but that factors from the
peritoneal cavity are quantitatively the most important.
[0091] Both models also are important for the understanding of
adhesions prevention agents. A flotation agent will also dilute
peritoneal fluid and any factor secreted locally by the denuded
areas, and will hamper the access. Barriers on the other hand might
in addition to keep tissues separated, shield the injured area from
the peritoneal fluid and its constituents.
[0092] Clinically some individuals form more easily adhesions after
surgery than others, an observation supported by the fact that some
mice strains form much more adhesions than others, while
variability of adhesion formation is much lower in inbred
strains.
[0093] The present invention will now be described with reference
to a number of aspects and embodiments, the present invention not
being limited thereto.
[0094] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a
product, also referred to as compound, and to the use of such a
compound for the manufacture of a medicament. The use may be for
reducing or preventing mesothelial cell damage during surgery in a
cavity by flowing the medicament in or over the cavity. Different
types of surgery thereby are envisaged. When endoscopy is applied,
which also may be referred to as minimal access surgery and which
typically may be advantageous because of a decreased postoperative
morbidity, less pain and a shorter hospitalization, the cavity
wherein surgery or inspection is required typically requires
insufflation to create a distention for creating visibility in the
cavity. Typically carbon dioxide gas is used for this, especially
in the case of intra-abdominal endoscopy, for safety reasons.
Carbon dioxide gas however, irritates the peritoneum and enhances
adhesion formation. Similarly in open surgery the 20% oxygen
concentrations (e.g. higher than 10%) in environmental air also
result in cellular damage and operative trauma. The compound
according to the present invention may be used as pneumoperitoneum
as well as as gas for flowing over the body during open surgery.
Applying a compound according to embodiments of the present
invention as or in pneumoperitoneum or as a gas flow flowing over
the cavity for removing environmental air or other unwanted gasses
allows reducing or preventing operative trauma as it assists in
reduction or prevention of adhesion formation. The compound
comprises a carrier gas, such as for example carbon dioxide gas
(CO.sub.2), and between 1% and 29% nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2O).
The upper limit thereby is amongst others determined by some
explosion risk at higher concentration. In some embodiments, the
compound consists of a carrier gas and nitrous oxide gas
(N.sub.2O), and no other components are intentionally added to the
compound. The carrier gas advantageously is a soluble carrier gas.
It may for example have a solubility in water larger than 0.5 g/l.
It has surprisingly been found that the use of nitrous oxide gas
has advantageous effects on reduction or prevention of adhesion
formation. The compound may in some embodiments for example
comprise between 1 and 29 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas,
preferably between 5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas,
more preferably between 5 and 10 volume percentage nitrous oxide
gas. The remaining part may be or may mainly be the carrier gas,
such as for example pure carbon dioxide gas. Obviously other gases,
such as helium, could be used as carrier gas, although this would
conflict with the safety requirements during laparoscopy. CO.sub.2
is generally used for pneumoperitoneum since CO.sub.2 is highly
soluble in water and since CO.sub.2 has a high exchange capacity in
the lungs. The addition of a small amount of gas, e.g. less than
10% of a non soluble gas to the compound is considered clinically
safe for gas embolism.
[0095] The compounds described according to the present invention
have not been used for reduction or prevention of adhesion
formation, in particularly not by or during pneumoperitoneum. The
compounds, which also may be referred to as drugs, can be applied
either systemically or by local instillation during surgery or by
the prolonged administration intraperitoneally postoperatively,
preferably locally, e.g. by miniosmotic pumps. Local administration
has the advantage that much higher concentrations of active drugs
or compounds can be provided by providing them over longer time.
The administration can be performed for a plurality of hours
postoperatively.
[0096] In one embodiment, the compound also may be moistened. As
drying of peritoneal surfaces has been considered another cofactor
in adhesion formation, moistening the compound used for preventing
adhesion formation results in an additional reduction of adhesion
formation.
[0097] In one embodiment, the compound also may comprise oxygen gas
in the gas mixture. It has surprisingly been found that the effect
of oxygen and the effect of nitrous oxide gas have additive
effects, so that combining both oxygen gas and nitrous oxide gas in
the gas mixtures results in advantageous reduction or prevention of
adhesion formation. The compound thus may comprise carbon dioxide
as major component, with additional nitrous oxide gas and oxygen
gas. The concentration of oxygen gas used may be in the range 1% to
10%, e.g. 2% to 6%, e.g. 3%.
[0098] In one embodiment, together with the use of the gas mixture
comprising nitrous oxide gas, one or more of the following
mechanisms and/or drugs can be used for the prevention of adhesion
formation. It thereby is an advantage that the use of nitrous oxide
comprising gas mixtures allows easy combination and provides
additional advantages. The drugs or mechanisms used may be one or
more of drugs administered continuously or intermittently via
aerosol, activation of potassium channels, modulation of macrophage
activation and leucocyte attraction through cytokines, or their
inhibitors, the effect of VEGF expression being blocked by
antibodies or other inhibitors, indomethacin which can inhibit the
membrane lipid peroxidation products following anoxemia,
prostaglandin E1 for reducing the consequences of ischemia and/or
anoxemia in the liver, allopurinol for reducing the consequences of
ischemia and/or anoxemia in the kuppfer cells of the liver through
an effect on xanthine-oxidase, calcium channel blockers, free
radical scavengers, lipid peroxysomes, pregnatrienes, calcium
antagonists, prevention of hypoxia associated stress proteins,
acidosis for preventing reperfusion damage, MP, dopamine and
ATP-MgCl2 administered following the anoxemia. The dose of the
above drugs or systems is determined taking into consideration the
age, sex, and symptom of the disease of the subject, the desired
therapeutic effect, the period of administration, etc. Further
features and advantage of the compound will become apparent in the
examples.
[0099] As indicated above, in some embodiment, the products and
methods as described above are applied for open surgery and the gas
mixture may be supplied through a tube that is positioned in or
near the cavity in the living creature, opened for surgery. The
present invention according to embodiments of the present invention
also relates to a method of preventing or reducing adhesion
formation by providing a gas mixture to the cavity opened for
performing open surgery. The gas mixture thereby may in one
embodiment comprise a carrier gas and between 1 and 10 volume
percent of oxygen, e.g. between 2 volume % to 6 volume %, e.g. 3
volume %. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the gas mixture may
be nitrous oxide, more particularly between 1 and maximally 29
volume % and if used together e.g. with 4% of oxygen to maximally
25 volume %, e.g. between 5% and 20% or between 5% and 10%.
[0100] In one aspect, the present invention also relates to a gas
supply system or conditioning system comprising a gas supplying
system or gas supplying means for supplying a gas flow during
surgery. The system in some embodiments advantageously may be an
endoscopic system, although embodiments of the present invention
are not limited thereto. In applications for open surgery for
example, typically non-endoscopic systems may be used. A gas supply
system or conditioning system comprising a gas supplying system or
gas supplying means according to embodiments of the present
invention comprises a gas supplying means for providing a mixture
of gas for use in surgery. The gas supply system furthermore is
designed for supplying gas mixtures comprising a carrier gas, such
as e.g. carbon dioxide gas, and nitrous oxide gas for reduction or
prevention of adhesion formation. According to embodiments of the
present invention, the nitrous oxide gas thereby is present in a
concentration from the range 1% to 29%, e.g. from the range 5% to
20%, e.g. from the range 5% to 10%. Depending on the application,
the gas supply system may comprise an endoscopic insufflation means
or a gas supply means for use in open surgery. It was surprisingly
found that nitrous oxide gas reduces adhesion formation during or
by pneumoperitoneum as well as when used for flowing over bodily
parts for removing environmental air or other unwanted gasses. The
gas supply system may be designed or programmed for supplying a gas
mixture comprising between 1 and 29 volume percentage nitrous oxide
gas, e.g. between 5 and 20 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas,
e.g. between 5 and 10 volume percentage nitrous oxide gas. The gas
supply system furthermore may be designed for additionally
supplying in the gas mixtures between 1 and 10 volume percentage of
oxygen gas, e.g. between 2 and 6 volume percentage of oxygen gas,
or e.g. 3 volume percentage oxygen gas. The gas supply system may
have a number of gas inlets through which the different gasses are
received or one of more gasses may be in a premixed form. The gas
supply system may comprise a mixing system for mixing individual
received gasses from individual gas supplies. In one embodiment,
the system furthermore may comprise a moistening means for
moistening the gas mixture that will be supplied. Alternatively or
in addition thereto a moistening means also may be present for
directly moistening the bodily parts in the cavity. The moistening
system may in one embodiment be a sprinkler system. The gas supply
system also may comprise a heating and/or cooling means for heating
and/or cooling of the gas mixture. The latter may be performed in
response to a temperature measurement, i.e. the gas supply system
also may comprise a temperature measurement system for obtaining
temperature information for the gas mixture. An appropriate
temperature may be one of the cofactors influencing the adhesion
formation. The gas supply system also may comprise a controller for
controlling the gas mixture and properties thereof. The controller
may be programmed such that a predetermined ratio, or if it is
desired to vary this over time, a predetermined ratio profile for
the nitrous oxide gas can be obtained. The controller may provide
control signals to controllable valves at the gas inlets, in order
to control the amount of gas of a certain type that is provided for
making the gas mixture. Such valves, which typically also are part
of the gas supply system, may be mechanical valves,
electromechanical valves, etc. The controller in such way may be
adapted for setting the desired ration of nitrous oxide gas to
carbon oxide gas as well as to alter it. In one embodiment, such a
controller may be programmed to initially provide a gas mixture
with soluble gas such as for example carbon dioxide while after a
predetermined time or upon a predetermined command, the gas mixture
may be altered to comprise a fraction of nitrous oxide gas. The
controller may, in some embodiments, also be adapted for switching
between a first gas or gas mixture and a second gas mixture, e.g.
from a gas or gas mixtures not comprising nitrous oxide gas to a
gas mixture comprising nitrous oxide gas in a predetermined ratio.
The controller furthermore may be adapted for controlling the
moistening system, the heating and cooling device, etc. In an
advantageous embodiment, the gas supply system may be adapted with
a sensing unit wherein one or more environmental parameters such as
temperature, humidity, gas composition, etc. can be measured near
the bodily parts or in the cavity, so that feedback can be provided
in order to optimize the parameter settings. By way of
illustration, embodiments of the present invention not being
limited thereto, an example of a gas supply system is shown in FIG.
4. In FIG. 4 a gas supply system 100 comprising a controller 102
programmed for controlling the provision of a gas mixture
comprising carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide gas in a given ratio or
with a predetermined ratio profile is shown. In the example, at
least two gas inlets 110, 112 are provided, one for carbon dioxide
and one for nitrous oxide gas e.g. equipped with electromechanical
valves 120, 122. In one embodiment, a third gas inlet 114 equipped
with a valve 124, e.g. an electromechanical valve, may be provided
for also controlling the inlet of oxygen as. Mixture is obtained by
periodically opening valves 120, 122 thus mixing the two gasses in
a mixer, e.g. buffer volume. The system furthermore may comprise
pressure sensors for controlling the flow of gases and may for
example be programmed for obtaining a predefined pressure
difference between the buffer volume 140 and the incoming gas
flows. Alternatively or in addition thereto, also a feedback system
150 may be provided adapted for compensating, e.g. in an automated
and/or automatically manner, deviation from a predefined
composition by controlling proportional valves at the gas inlet.
Such a system has the advantage of providing a quasi immediate
response to a change in the mixing ratio or to a request for such a
change. The controller 102 also may be programmed for providing a
gas mixture having a predetermined dynamic composition over time. A
moistening means 160, e.g. sprinklers, and a heating and/or cooling
means 170, e.g. a heating element or cooling element, for
controlling the temperature of the gas mixture also may be
provided.
[0101] In one embodiment, the gas supply system also may be
provided with a system for aspiration, i.e. removal of gases from
the body with a suction device. Such a system may prevent
anesthetic nitrous oxide from flowing in the air near the operating
field, optionally forming a risk for medical personnel. During the
surgery, aspiration thus may be performed using a suction device.
The gas could be reused in closed circuit after filtrating of
particulates but this is not done until today since the gas would
have to be recompressed for in an insufflator for endoscopic
surgery. In open surgery however, we can take advantage of the
density of CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2O by constructing an aspiration
system, for applying aspiration e.g. a circular aspiration system
on and around the operation wound. This not only would prevent the
N.sub.2O flowing into the operating theatre but would in addition
protect the surgeon from inhalation of particulates generated by
vaporization.
[0102] In one aspect, the present invention also relates to a
controller for controlling the gas mixture used. Such a controller
may be as the controller described above. The controller may be
implemented in hardware as well as in software. It may be a
processing system that may comprise instructions for performing
controlling functions of a controller as described above or as
described in any of the method embodiments.
[0103] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that using N.sub.2O adhesion formation can be reduced or
even prevented. This surprising effect can for example be seen for
a concentration of 5% of N.sub.2O and an additional effect can be
seen when adding e.g. 3% of oxygen.
[0104] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that e.g. the use of 5% N.sub.2O, alone or in combination
with 3% of O.sub.2 in the pneumoperitoneum will reduce
postoperative pain and postoperative inflammation.
[0105] It is an advantage of some embodiments of the present
invention that reduced adhesion formation and/or reduced
postoperative pain or postoperative inflammation also can be
obtained for open surgery by insufflating in the lower parts of the
abdomen gas comprising N.sub.2O in order to prevent air to reach
the mesothelial cells. Decrease of adhesion formation,
postoperative pain and postoperative abdominal inflammation are
best obtained by using such a gas flow, in combination with
humidification and constant slightly lower temperature. The gas
mixture may comprise N.sub.2O and oxygen, e.g. in one example being
5% N.sub.2O and 3% of Oxygen.
[0106] In some embodiments, the use of additional N.sub.2O in the
gas mixture used for flowing in/or over the cavity in which surgery
is taking place is combined with cooling of the cavity, e.g. using
sprinklers, adding oxygen to the gas mixture, using dexamethasone,
or other features indicated in FIG. 1 and allowing conditioning of
the cavity.
[0107] By way of illustration, embodiments of the present invention
not being limited thereto, some examples are discussed below,
illustrating some features and advantages of some embodiments
according to the present invention.
[0108] In a first example, during laparoscopic experiments on
adhesion formation in rabbits CO.sub.2 with 25% of N2O was used in
order to reduce the need of anaesthesia during these experiments.
Surprisingly, it was not possible to induce adhesions in these
rabbits.
[0109] In a second set of examples, adhesion formation in mice is
studied. The investigations were performed in a 12-13-week-old
female Balb/c mice weighting 20 to 30 g. Before surgery, the
animals were kept under standard laboratory conditions (temperature
20.degree. C.-22.degree. C. , relative humidity 50%-60%, 14 hours
light and 10 hours dark). They were fed with a standard laboratory
diet (MuraconG, Carsil Quality, Turnhout, Belgium) with free access
to food and water at any time.
[0110] The experiments were performed under following conditions.
The model used consisted of CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum-enhanced
adhesions following a mechanical bipolar lesion during laparoscopy
. The pneumoperitoneum was maintained for 60 minutes using, in the
reference measurement, pure and humidified CO.sub.2 at 15 mmHg of
insufflation pressure. In order to control temperature, animals and
equipment, i.e. insufflator, humidifier, water valve, ventilator
and tubing, were placed in a closed chamber maintained at
37.degree. C. (heated air, WarmTouch, Patient Warming System, model
5700, Mallinckrodt Medical, Hazelwood, MO.). The insufflation gas
temperature was determined by the environmental temperature, i.e.
at 37.degree. C. Because anaesthesia and ventilation can influence
body temperature and body temperature can influence adhesion
formation, the timing and temperature were strictly controlled. The
time of the anaesthesia injection was considered time 0 (T0). The
animal preparation and ventilation started after exactly 10 minutes
(T10). The pneumoperitoneum started at 20 minutes (T20) and was
maintained for 60 minutes until T80.
[0111] Animals were anesthetized at T0 with i.p. pentobarbital
(Nembutal, Sanofi Sante Animale, Brussels, Belgium) with a dose of
0.08 mg/g. Animal preparation, i.e. shaving, positioning to the
table in the supine position, intubation and ventilation started
after 10 min exactly (T10). Animals were intubated with a 20-gauge
catheter and ventilated with a mechanical ventilator (Mouse
Ventilator MiniVent, Type 845, Hugo Sachs Elektronik-Harvard
Apparatus GmbH, March-Hugstetten, Germany) using humidified air
with a tidal volume of 250 .mu.l at 160 strokes/min. The
experiments started at T20 (i.e. 20 minutes after initial
anesthesia) and ventilation finished at T80 (i.e. 80 minutes after
initial anesthesia). This strict timing from anaesthesia onwards is
important not to introduce temperature differences and thus
variability in adhesion formation in the mice due to anaesthesia
and manipulation.
[0112] The surgical procedures were standard opposing bipolar
lesions. At T20, the CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum was induced using a
Thermoflator (as available from Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany)
through a 2 mm endoscope with a 3.3 external sheath for
insufflation (as available from Karl Storz, Tuttlingen Germany)
introduced into the abdominal cavity through a midline incision
caudal to the xyphoid appendix. The incision was closed gas tight
around the endoscope in order to avoid leakage. The insufflation
pressure was 15 mmHg. For humidification, the Storz Humidifier
204320 33 (as available from Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) was
used. After the establishment of the pneumoperitoneum, two 14-gauge
catheters (Insyte-W, Vialon, Becton Dickinson, Madrid, Spain) were
inserted under laparoscopic vision in order to create some flow
through the abdominal cavity. Standardized 10 mm.times.1.6 mm
lesions were performed in the antimesenteric border of both right
and left uterine horns and in both the right and left pelvic side
walls with bipolar coagulation (20 W, standard coagulation mode,
Autocon 350, Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). The surgical
procedure was considered to be finished with the removal of the
catheters for instrumentation and closure of port sites. The
CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum was maintained until T80 (i.e. during a
total time of 60 min).
[0113] Adhesions were qualitatively and quantitatively scored
blindly one week later during laparotomy using a stereomicroscope
(Wild Heerbrugg M7A, Gais, Switzerland). The quantitative scoring
system assessed the percentage of the lesions covered by adhesions
as follows: adhesion (%)=(sum of the length of the individual
attachments/length of the lesion).times.100. The qualitative
scoring system assessed: extent as measured by a ruler (0: no
adhesions; 1: 1-25%; 2: 26-50%; 3: 51-75%; 4: 76-100% of the
injured surface involved, respectively), type (0: no adhesions; 1:
filmy; 2: dense; 3: capillaries present), tenacity (0: no
adhesions; 1: easily fall apart; 2: require traction; 3: require
sharp dissection). Total adhesion score was the sum of extent,
type, and tenacity. All results represent the average of the
adhesions formed at the four individual sites i.e., right and left
visceral and parietal peritoneum. The first experiment in this set
illustrates the effect of substituting CO.sub.2 used for the
pneumoperitoneum with N.sub.2O was tested. All mice had a standard
bipolar lesion followed by 60 min of pneumoperitoneum either with
pure CO.sub.2 (n=5, CO.sub.2 enhanced adhesion formation) or with
pure N.sub.2O (n=5) . Adhesion formation assessed qualitatively as
a total adhesion score or quantitatively as a proportion decreased
from 30.+-.4 to 10.+-.3 and from 70.+-.10 to 15.+-.8% (both
P<0.001)
[0114] The second experiment resulted in a dose response curve
evaluating in comparison of pure CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum the
adhesion reducing effect of adding 5%, 10%, 25%; 50% of N.sub.2O to
the CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum and of using pure N.sub.2O. Using
pure CO2, CO2 with 5% N.sub.2O, with 10% N.sub.2O, with 25%
N.sub.2O, with 50% N.sub.2O, or pure N2O respectively, the total
adhesion score resulted in 31+4, 12+3, 11+2, 10+5, 11+4 and 10.+-.3
respectively. The quantitative scores were 74.+-.9% , 18.+-.8%,
17.+-.10%, 15.+-.6%, 14.+-.5% and 15.+-.8% respectively.
[0115] The third experiment was designed to evaluate whether adding
3% of oxygen to the CO2 pneumoperitoneum and adding N2O had
additive effects. Therefore adhesion scores were evaluated after 60
min of pneumoperitoneum with pure CO2, with CO2+3% of oxygen, With
CO2+5% N2O, or CO2+3% of oxygen+5% of N2O. (n=5 in each group) The
total adhesion scores for CO2, CO2+3% of oxygen, CO2+5% N2O and
CO2+3% of oxygen+5% of N2O were 32.+-.4, 15.+-.3, 11.+-.2, and
7.+-.2 respectively. The quantitative scores were 77.+-.9% ,
35.+-.7%, 17.+-.10% and 10.+-.6% respectively.
[0116] In one experiment, the acute inflammatory reaction at the
level of the lesions and in the entire peritoneal cavity was
investigated. It was found that acute inflammation was decreased
importantly by adding 5% NO2 or 3% of Oxygen to the peritoneal
cavity.
[0117] In another pilot experiment the reduction in tumor
implantation rate was demonstrated by adding 5% N2O to the
pneumoperitoneum, similar as observed for adding 4% of oxygen.
[0118] In one experiment for a control group with a lesion only a
comparison was made between the effect of for 60 min leaving the
abdomen open at the air, the instillation of a gas flow of 1 l/min
deep in the pelvis either with humidified CO2 or with humidified
CO2 with 5% of N2O. It should be realized that considering that CO2
and N2O are heavier than air both CO2 or N2O gas pushes the air
upwards thus shielding the peritoneal cavity from the air.
(densities of CO2, N2O, N2 and O2 are 1.977, 1.98, 1.69 and 1.42
g/l respectively) These experiments confirmed the laparoscopy
experiments demonstrating an important increase in adhesions after
60 min exposure to the air, a decrease of these adhesions with the
instillation of humidified CO2 and a further reduction in adhesion
after the administration of humidified CO2 with 5% of N2O.
[0119] In a further set of trials, human patients were treated
operatively by laparoscopy using a pneumoperitoneum with 86%
CO.sub.2, 10% of N.sub.2O and 4% of O.sub.2 in combination with
full humidification and with a temperature maintained at 31.degree.
C. to 32.degree. C. when entering the patient (conditioned group).
Furthermore the peritoneal cavity was cooled to 30-32.degree. C.
using sprinkling of 2 ml/min of saline at room temperature and
rinsing was performed using slightly heparinised saline. A
comparison was made with a standard treatment, whereby a
pneumoperitoneum with 100% CO.sub.2 was used (non-conditioned
group). Flow rates were between 3 and 10 liter/min. In a first
trial, patients were undergoing deep endometriosis surgery. The
trial group received in addition 5 mg of dexamethasone and a
hyalobarrier gel at the end of the procedure. In a second trial,
patients were undergoing hysterectomy, promontofixation or severe
adhaesiolysis (stratification by type) of surgery. A number of
parameters were monitored such as postoperative pain, time to first
flatus and time to first stools, and the CO.sub.2 resorbtion during
pneumoperitoneum. In the first trial, endpoints adhesion formation
was checked by repeat laparoscopy. In both trials CO.sub.2
resorbtion during surgery, postoperative pain assessed by VAS
scales and pain killer intake and time to first flatus and time to
first stools were monitored.
[0120] In the first trial, most of the patients were almost free of
adhesions, whereas in the control group severe adhesions were
found.
[0121] In both trials post operative pain was evaluated at 3 hours,
12 hours and daily for 4 days after surgery using a VAS scale
(Visual Analog Pain Scale) and using the amount of pain killer
intake. It was found that post operative pain substantially reduced
using a pneumoperitoneum comprising 10% of N.sub.2O in combination
with full humidification and temperature control, compared to the
use of a CO.sub.2 pneumoperitoneum. It was found that the addition
of 5% N.sub.2O, with or without addition of oxygen, to the
pneumoperitoneum resulted in such pain reduction during surgery
that it renders laparoscopy under local anaesthesia possible. In
FIG. 5, the evaluation of pain on the VAS scale (illustrated by
graphs at the top) and the pain killer intake (illustrated by
graphs at the bottom) is shown for both trials (trial 1 being
illustrated on the left hand side graphs, trial 2 being illustrated
on the right hand side). The experimental results indicated by
squares illustrate the results for the non-conditioned group
whereas the experimental results indicated by the discs illustrate
the results for the conditioned group. It can be seen that the pain
killer intake is substantially lower for the conditioned group and
that the evaluation of pain is more advantageous for the
conditioned group.
[0122] Furthermore, it was found that the time to first flatus and
time to first stools significantly reduced. In FIG. 6, for both the
first trial (left hand side) and the second trial (right hand
side), the time to first flatus (TTFF) and the time to first stools
(TTFS) are indicated. The experimental results indicated by squares
illustrate the results for the non-conditioned group whereas the
experimental results indicated by the discs illustrate the results
for the conditioned group. It can be seen that the time to first
flatus and time to first stools are clearly shorter in the
conditioned group.
[0123] It was also found that the progressive increase in CO.sub.2
resorbtion during pneumoperitoneum typically occurring during
laparoscopy significantly decreases or even almost disappears.
Similar effects are expected when using the gas mixture in open
surgery.
[0124] In conclusion, in both trials the clinical results confirm
the beneficial effects of full conditioning in decreasing pain and
pain killer intake, in less morbidity, while confirming clinically
the beneficial effect upon adhesion formation. In addition it was
found that shoulder pain after surgery was no longer observed
following conditioning.
[0125] These trials furthermore were evidenced by several clinical
observations : A patient clearly and correctly indicated which
laparoscopy was done under conditioning and which was not, patients
having an hysterectomy with conditioning were walking around and
planning to leave hospital earlier than patients having a
hysterectomy without conditioning, medical staff could indicate
correctly which patients received conditioning, anaesthesists
confirmed not seeing CO.sub.2 resorbtion when conditioning, an
observation never made before.
[0126] In a further experiment it was found that postoperatively
acute inflammation of the body cavity, in the example being the
peritoneal lining, was substantially decreased using a gas mixture
as pneumoperitoneum comprising a 5% N.sub.2O gas mixture. These
effects were seen at the mesothelial level and up to about 1 mm of
the submeothelial layers in an experiment using mice.
[0127] It is to be noticed that the effect of N.sub.2O has been
found surprisingly. Whereas the action of using lower temperatures
and addition of oxygen could be explained and taking into account
the deleterious effect of mesothelial hypoxia (pure CO2
pneumoperitoneum), mesothelial hyperoxia (more than 10% of oxygen,
ROS), dessication and mechanical trauma, the additional effect of
adding N.sub.2O seems an effect of protection of mesothelial cells.
The mesothelial cell is very fragile and detaches easily. It is
believed that N.sub.2O reduces fragility at the level of cell
attachment and cell skeleton and can have a stabilizing effect upon
the membrane facilitating gliding or affect fibrinolysis.
[0128] Thus, whereas the mechanism of action of added N.sub.2O in
adhesion prevention is at present not clear, some embodiments of
the present invention advantageously result at least in adhesion
prevention with in addition safety advantages comparable to
CO.sub.2 considering the solubilities of N.sub.2O, CO.sub.2,
N.sub.2, and O.sub.2 being 1.5, 1.45, 0.0391 and 0.0232
respectively). Other optional but correlated advantages are
indicated in the embodiments of the present invention.
[0129] That the mechanism of action of N.sub.2O is different from
the mechanism of action of oxygen is obvious since even a slightly
better effect is observed with higher concentrations of N.sub.2O
whereas more than 10% of oxygen clearly is deleterious.
[0130] Given that CO.sub.2 is traditionally used to create the
pneumoperitoneum for safety reasons (solubility), the lower limit
of efficacy of N.sub.2O was investigated to demonstrate specificity
of the effect of N.sub.2O upon adhesion formation. During
laparoscopy, and during open surgery, however, much higher
concentrations of N.sub.2O can safely be used considering that
solubility in water of N.sub.2O is comparable to CO.sub.2 and much
higher than the solubility of N.sub.2 and O.sub.2. The optimal
concentration of N.sub.2O and of CO.sub.2 should be determined in
future experiment in the human. The upper limit for the N.sub.2O
concentration should be limited to maximally 29% and if used
together with 4% of oxygen to 25% for safety reasons, since higher
concentrations potentially can maintain combustion of gasses from
the intestine with some explosion risk.
[0131] Furthermore, in some embodiments, control by the anesthetist
of the anesthesia may be performed, whereby the use of N.sub.2O in
a pneumoperioneum or gas flowing over the body for adhesion
prevention is taken into account for controlling the anesthesia,
because the resorbtion of N.sub.2O could influence the depth of
anesthesia. Resorbtion of N.sub.2O easily can be compensated by
reducing the amount of other anesthetic gasses used.
[0132] During surgery, the smoke plume generated by vaporization of
tissue as occurs during electrosurgery or during CO.sub.2 or other
laser surgery, is considered potentially harmful even carcinogenic
upon inhalation. This together with N.sub.2O being a gas with
anesthetic properties, makes it undesirable of let the gas from the
operating field flow freely in the air. During laparoscopy
aspiration of gas and disposal can easily be done. The gas could be
reused in closed circuit after filtrating of particulates but this
is not done until today since the gas would have to be recompressed
for in an insufflator for endoscopic surgery. In open surgery
however, we can take advantage of the density of CO.sub.2 and
N.sub.2O by constructing an aspiration system, for applying
aspiration e.g. a circular aspiration system on and around the
operation wound. This not only would prevent the N.sub.2O flowing
into the operating theatre but would in addition protect the
surgeon from inhalation of particulates generated by vaporization,
another advantage.
[0133] It should be noted that given the similarity of effects upon
the mesothelial tissue between laparoscopic surgery and laparotomy,
all beneficial aspects as observed during laparoscopic surgery,
such as a reduced temperature, are applicable to open surgery.
Considering that probably mesothelial cell trauma plays a role it
is not surprising that with N.sub.2O other beneficial effects of
adding low concentrations of oxygen , such as reducing tumor
implantation can be substituted.
[0134] In one embodiment, a method is described wherein provision
of nitrous oxide in the pneumoperitoneum or in a gas flow over the
open cavity during open surgery is complemented with one or more,
advantageously all of the provision of a flow or oxygen gas,
cooling, humidification, the provision of ROS scavengers, the
provision of calcium channel blockers and of phospholipids, the
provision of dexamethasone, the provision of barrier gels and the
provision of anti-angiogenic factors and fibroblast manipulation.
One or more of the following products may be administered as
medicament, i.e. potassium channels; modulators of macrophage
activation and leucocyte attraction through cytokines, or their
inhibitors, antibodies or inhibitors blocking the effect of VEGF
expression; prostaglandin E1; free radical scavengers, lipid
peroxysomes; pregnatrienes; calcium antagonists; hypoxia; acidosis;
MP; dopamine; and ATP-MgCl.sub.2, wherein the method prevents
adhesion formation by preventing anoxemia.
[0135] The present invention also relates to a method for applying
anesthesia to a living creature. Such a method comprises providing
an anesthetic gas or gas mixture for blocking sensation of a living
creature. According to embodiments of the present invention, the
use of N.sub.2O in a pneumoperitoneum or gas flowing over the body
for adhesion prevention thereby is taken into account. More
particularly, the method may comprise adjusting a doses of
anesthetic gas or gas mixture, e.g. applied in a conventional
manner for anesthesia, for blocking sensation of a living creature
thereby taking into account the provision of N.sub.2O as a
pneumoperitoneum or as gas flowing over the body for adhesion
prevention. Adjusting the doses thereby may comprise taking into
account resorbtion of N.sub.2O applied as pneumoperitoneum or as
gas flow over the open body during open surgery.
[0136] The present invention also relates to a conditioning system,
whereby the conditioning system is adapted for adding, to the gas
used for flowing in or over the cavity where surgery is taking
place, between 1% and 29% of N.sub.2O. The conditioning system may
comprise a controller adapted for controlling the pneumoperitoneum
gas as indicated according to any of the embodiments or experiments
as described above. The conditioning system thus may assist in
performing surgery while preventing mesothelial cell damage. In one
embodiment, the conditioning system comprises an endoscopic system
or is adapted for co-operating therewith, so as to allow for
laparoscopic surgery. In another embodiment, the system is adapted
for assisting in open surgery.
[0137] The conditioning system also may comprise a number of
additional features allowing controlling of the different
conditions under which surgery is being performed. One additional
component may be a temperature controller and heating and/or
cooling element. The conditioner may be adapted for keeping the
cavity where surgery is taking place in a temperature range between
25.degree. and 35.degree., advantageously in a temperature range of
30.degree. to 32.degree.. Under such conditions, cells are more
resistant to metabolic damage at lower temperature. Cooling may be
performed using a sprinkler, although embodiments of the present
invention are not limited thereto.
[0138] Advantageously, the cooling is performed separately from the
gas conditioning, as using the gas as cooling means, by bringing it
to a lower temperature, would result in desiccation due to heating
of the gas upon entrance of the cavity. The cooling means thus may
be separate from the gas supplying means. For controlling
temperature, a temperature sensor also may be present. Such a
temperatures sensor may be present at the entrance of the patient
but can also be done using a feed forward loop further away from
the patient, e.g. based on a known temperature gradient between the
temperature measured at the sensor and the temperature at the
entrance of the patient.
[0139] The conditioning system also may comprise a system for
adding oxygen or controlling an oxygen pressure to/in the fluid
flowing in or over the cavity where surgery is taking place. For
this, between 1% and 10% oxygen may be added, between 2% and 6%
oxygen, e.g. 4% oxygen may be added. The latter allows mimicking
the natural environment of the cavity where surgery is taking
place.
[0140] A conditioning system as described above typically can be
placed between the insufflator or supply for the gas used for
flowing in or over the cavity where surgery is taking place and the
patient. The conditioning system in one embodiment may be adapted
for first adding N.sub.2O and O.sub.2 to the carrier gas, e.g.
CO.sub.2, which is subsequently humidified and delivered to the
patient at 30-32.degree. C. with 100% RH. A separate supply for
liquid for cooling may be provided, allowing simultaneously cooling
of the cavity, e.g. with 2 ml/min of saline/Hartman at room
temperature. Thus the temperature of the incoming gas will also
further decrease resulting in slight condensation thus avoiding any
desiccation.
[0141] The conditioning system and the resulting conditioning has
several advantages for the surgery provided, some dependent on the
application. Cooling to 30.degree. without desiccation does not
affect core body temperature. Conditioning according to embodiments
has the advantage that a clear image is maintained. It thereby is
an advantage that the image does not deteriorate even after 4 hours
of surgery.
[0142] The sprinkling can also be used to deliver continuously
medicines or other chemical or biological components, such as for
example small doses of heparin for preventing clotting and fibrin
deposition. In some advantageous embodiments, the conditioning
system therefore furthermore comprises a means for adding one or
more medicines or drugs or chemicals, e.g. in a controlled amount,
to the liquid spread by the sprinkler. By way of illustration,
embodiments of the present invention not being limited thereto, a
number of medicines or drugs or chemicals that can be added are
listed herewith. Anesthetic agents can be added including but not
limited to, alcohol, Bupivacaine, Chloroprocaine, Levobupivacaine,
Lidocaine, Mepivacaine, Procaine, Ropivacaine and Tetracaine.
Analgesic agents can be added which may include but are not limited
to, respiratory agents such as Excedrin, Tylenol, DayQuil, NyQuil;
centrally acting analgesics such as, Duraclon, Ultrocet and Ultram;
miscellaneous analgesics agents such as, Carbatrol, Hyalgan,
Lidoderm, Nuropin, Neurontin, Phenegran, and Tegretol; as well as
narcotics such as, Nubain, Darvocet, Dilaudid, Lortab, OxyContin,
Percocet, and Vicodin. Chemotherapy agents can be added, also known
as antineoplastic agents, which may include, but not be limited to,
Altretamine, Asparaginase, BCG, Bleomycin sulfate, Busulfan,
Carboplatin, Carmustine, Chlorambucil, Cisplatin, Cladribine,
Cyclophosphamide, Cytarabine, Decarbazine imidazole carboxamide,
Dactinomycin, Daunorubicin-daunomycin, Dexamethasone, Doxombicin,
Etoposide-epipodophyllotoxin, Floxuridine, Fluorouracil,
Fluoxymesterone, Flutamide, Fludarabine, Goserelin, Hydroxyurea,
Idarubicin HCL, Ifosfamide-Isophosphamide, Interferon alfa,
Interferon alfa 2a, Interferon alfa n3, Irinotecan, Leucovorin
calcium, Leuprolide, Levamisole, Lomustine, Megestrol,
Melphalan-L-phenylalanine mustard, L-sarcolysin, Melphalan
hydrochloride, MESNA, Mechlorethamine, nitrogen mustard,
Methylprednisolone, Methotrexate-Amethopterin, Mitomycin-Mitomycin
C, Mitoxantrone, Mercaptopurine, Paclitaxel,
Plicamycin-Mithramycin, Prednisone, Procarbazine, Streptozocin,
Streptozotocin, Tamoxifen, 6-thioguanine, Thiotepa-triethylene
thiophosphoramide, Vinblastine, Vincristine and Vinorelbine
tartrate. Anti-infective agents may be added which include those
agents classed as antihelminics and antibiotics. Antibiotics may be
further classified as aminoglysosides, anti-fungal antibiotics,
cephalosporins, b-lactam antibiotics, chloramphenical, macrolides,
penicillins, tetracyclines, miscellaneous antibiotics,
antituberculosis agents, anti-virals, anti-retrovirals,
antimalarials, ouinolones, sulfonamides, sulfones, urinary
anti-infectives and miscellaneous anti-infectives. Antihelminics
may be added which include by way of example, but are not limited
to, Thiabendazole. Aminoglycosides may be added which include by
way of example, but are not limited to, Amikacin, Gentamicin,
Neomycin, Streptomycin and Tobramycin. Antifungal antibiotics may
be added which may include but are not limited to, Amphotericin B,
Amphotericin B5 Lipid formulation T. E., Fluconazole, Flucytosine,
Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Nystatin, and
Terbinafine. Cephalosporins may be added which may include but are
not limited to Cefaclor, Cefazolin, Cefepime, Cefixime, Cefonicid,
Cefotaxine, Cefpodoxine, Cefprozil, Ceftazidine, Ceftriaxone,
Cefuroxime, Cephalexin, and Cephradine. B-Lactam antibiotics may be
added which may include but are not limited to Aztreonam,
Cefotetan, Cefoxitin, and Imipenem/Cilastatin. Chloroamphenicol may
be added which may include but are not limited to, Chloramphenicol,
Chloramphenicol Palmitate, and Chloramphenicol Succinate.
Macrolides may be added which may include but are not limited to
Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Erythromycin Ethyl
Succinate and Erythromycin
[0143] Lactobionate. Tetracyclines may be added which may include
but are not limited to Demeclocycline, Doxycycline, Minocycline and
Tetracycline. Miscellaneous antibiotics may be used which may
include but are not limited to, Bacitracin, Clindamycin, Polymyxin
B, Spectinomycin and Vancomycin. Antituberculosis agents may be
used which may include but are not limited to Ethambutol,
Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Rifabutin and Rifampin. Antivirals may be
used which may include but are not limited to Acyclovir,
Amantadine, Famciclovir, Foscarnet, Ganciclovir, Ribavirin,
Valacyclovir and Valganciclovir. Antiretrovirals may be used which
may include but are not limited to Abacavir, Amprenavir,
Didanosine, Efavirenz, Indinavir, Lamivudine, Loopinavir,
Nelf[iota]navir, Nevirapine, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Stavudine,
Zalcitabine and
[0144] Zidovudine. Antimalarials may be added which may include but
are not limited to Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Pyrimethamine
and Quinine. Quinolones may be used which may include but are not
limited to Gatifioxacin, Levofloxacin and Ofloxacin.
[0145] Sulfonamides may be added which may include but are not
limited to Sulfadiazine, Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfasalazine and
Sulfisoxazole. Sulfones may be added which may include but are not
limited to Dapsone. Urinary anti-infectives may be used which may
include but are not limited to Nitrofurantoin.
[0146] Miscellaneous anti-infectives may be used which may include
but are not limited to Clofazamine, Co-trimoxazole, Metronidazole
and Pentamidine.
[0147] Anti-adhesions agents may be used which may include but are
not limited to Aspirin, Calcium channel blockers,
Carboxymethylcellulose, Chondroitin sulfate, Corticosteroids,
Chymase inhibitors, Dextran, Dialysis solution, Diphenhydramine,
Fibrin glue, Haparin, Hyaluronic acid, L-Arginine, Methylene blue,
Mifepristone, Mitomycin C, NSAIDs, Octreotide, Pentoxifylline,
Peritoneal transplant, Photopolymerized hydrogel, Polyethylene
glycol, P[omicron]lyoxamer, Ringers lactate, Saline, Surfactant and
tissue plasminogen activator. Also known are solutions or gels such
as Hyaluronic acid, Hyalutronate-carboxymethylcellulose,
Carboxymethylcellulose, Polyethylene glycol, Dextran 70 and
Icodextrin 4%. Also known are commercial anti-adhesion barriers
such as hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose, oxidized regenerated
cellulose, polyethylene oxide-oxidized regenerated cellulose,
expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and pericardial patch. he use of
the above medicines, drugs or chemicals may require shredding,
pulverizing or powdering together with mixing them with a liquid to
make them usable in the present invention.
[0148] It also is advantageous that the components of the
conditioning do not substantially interfere with the tools to be
used by the surgery, so that no disturbing effect is induced for
the surgeon.
[0149] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that mesotheleal cells can be better protected.
[0150] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that pain can be substantially reduced, resulting in the
possibility for performing laparoscopy under local anesthesia.
[0151] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that CO.sub.2 resorbtion can be reduced or avoided,
permitting longer surgery in more steep Trendelenburg.
[0152] It is an advantage that using embodiments of the present
invention pain can be reduced during the first three days after
surgery and that pain killer intake can be reduced.
[0153] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that the time to first flatus and time to first stools
after surgery can be decreased.
[0154] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that adhesion formation can substantially reduced, e.g.
over 80%, and in combination with other features such as barriers,
even over 90% compared to conventional laparoscopy without such
features.
[0155] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that tumor cell implantation can be reduced, e.g. by at
least 75%, e.g. at least 90%, as evidenced in animal models.
[0156] It is an advantage of embodiments according to the present
invention that little acute inflammation is present, e.g.
substantially less than obtained using conditioning without the use
of N.sub.2O.
[0157] In one aspect, the present invention also relates to a
conditioning system for conditioning a cavity wherein surgery is or
will be performed, e.g. during pneumoperitoneum or in open surgery.
The conditioning system according to embodiments of the present
invention comprises a sprinkler for moistening the cavity, e.g. for
cooling the cavity to a predetermined temperature. In one
embodiment, the conditioning system comprises an endoscopic system
or is adapted for co-operating therewith, so as to allow for
laparoscopic surgery. In another embodiment, the system is adapted
for assisting in open surgery. The system furthermore optionally
comprises other components such as for example a controller for
controlling a gas mixtures for flowing over a cavity wherein
surgery is or will be performed such that it comprises between 1%
and 29% of N.sub.2O, a controller for controlling a gas mixture for
flowing over a cavity wherein surgery is or will be performed such
that it comprises between 1% and 10% oxygen, a controller for
controlling temperature or one or more of such features or other
features as described in a conditioning means according to the
present invention.
[0158] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and
not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be
understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing
the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure
and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does
not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a"
or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other
unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the
claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of
these measures cannot be used to advantage.
[0159] The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the
invention. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how
detailed the foregoing appears in text, the invention may be
practiced in many ways, and is therefore not limited to the
embodiments disclosed. It should be noted that the use of
particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects
of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology
is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific
characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with
which that terminology is associated.
* * * * *
References