No difference found in survival using carbon dioxide laparoscopy, helium laparoscopy, or laparotomy in an adenocarcinoma nude mouse model

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the impact of surgical approach on tumour growth and survival of xenografted nude mice. Materials and methods 237 mice which had received 106 SKOV-3 (human ovarian adenocarcinoma) cells subcutaneously and intraperitoneally, were anaesthetized for 60 min. The animals were randomly allocated to one of four groups: control group (n = 57), laparotomy (n = 61), CO2 laparoscopy (n = 62), or He laparoscopy (n = 57). Results Scar tumour grafts were found in 83.6% in the laparotomy group and in 64.5% in the group which underwent CO2 laparoscopy (P = 0.02). No significant differences were observed between any of the groups in relation to subcutaneous tumour volume at day 30 (P = 0.95), the intraperitoneal tumour volume (P = 0.70), the frequency of peritoneal carcinomatosis (P = 0.55), mesocolic and submesocolic tumour location (P = 0.52) or diaphragmatic metastases (P = 0.97). Moreover, no effect was found on the period of survival of the animals (P = 0.83). The average duration of survival was 63.4 ± 18.2 days (control), 64.2 ± 13.2 (laparotomy), 65.2 ± 16.9 (CO2) and 64.9 ± 16.5 (helium). Conclusion In the model used, CO2 laparoscopy is not associated with increased risk of tumour dissemination, scar implantation or death.