Effects of pneumoperitoneum and body position on the morphology of abdominal vascular structures analyzed in MRI

Purpose: To analyze the complications of laparoscopy in different vascular structures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI has become a key tool in laparoscopic surgery. During these procedures, pneumoperitoneum creation and placing the patient in the surgical position provoke different changes in the splachnic circulation. Materials and Methods: Ten pigs were included in the study. MRI studies of the abdominal area were carried out in four different situations of abdominal pressure and body position. Results: Changes in the area of the lumen of the portal vein and the abdominal aorta were analyzed in all situations. A significant reduction in the area of the abdominal aorta was observed after the pneumoperitoneum in supine and anti‐Trendelemburg position. The lumen of the portal vein was significantly reduced in all analyzed situations except when placing the patient in anti‐Trendelemburg without pneumoperitoneum, in which case the area was increased. Conclusion: The creation of pneumoperitoneum provokes morphological changes in the lumen of different abdominal vessels as a consequence of the increase of pressure. Furthermore, the combination of pneumoperitoneum together with the anti‐Trendelemburg position results in a more significant reduction of the lumen of the portal vein and the abdominal aorta. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:177–182. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.