A collection of air in the peritoneal cavity (see PERITONEUM). Air introduced into the peritoneal cavity collects under the diaphragm which is thus raised and collapses the lungs. This procedure was sometimes carried out in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in the pre-antibiotic days as an alternative to arti?cial PNEUMOTHORAX.
n. air or gas in the peritoneal or abdominal cavity, usually due to a perforation of the stomach or bowel. It is diagnosed by X-ray of the erect chest or by CT or ultrasound imaging. Pneumoperitoneum may be induced for diagnostic purposes (e.g. *laparoscopy). A former treatment of tuberculosis was the deliberate injection of air into the peritoneal cavity to allow the tuberculous lung to be rested (artificial pneumoperitoneum); this was frequently combined with *phrenic crush.
(peritoneoscopy) n. examination of the abdominal structures (which are contained within the peritoneum) by means of a *laparoscope. This is passed through a small incision in the wall of the abdomen after insufflating carbon dioxide into the abdominal cavity (creating a *pneumoperitoneum). Laparoscopy enables visual assessment of abdominal organs, harvesting of biopsies, and cancer staging. Therapeutic uses include aspiration of cysts, division of adhesions, and surgery that would previously have required *laparotomy. Examples include *hysterectomy, *cholecystectomy, *fundoplication, *prostatectomy, *colectomy, *nephrectomy, *oophorectomy, Fallopian tube ligation, and ova collection for *in vitro fertilization. See also minimally invasive surgery. —laparoscopic adj.... laparoscopy
1. damage to the phrenic nerve as a result of trauma. 2. formerly, surgical crushing of a portion of the *phrenic nerve. This paralyses the diaphragm on the side operated upon, which is then pushed upwards by the abdominal contents, thus pressing on the lung and partially collapsing it. This operation was formerly often combined with *pneumoperitoneum in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis but is now obsolete.... phrenic crush
a surgical needle used prior to *laparoscopy to gain access to the peritoneal cavity and allow insufflation of carbon dioxide (*pneumoperitoneum) before the insertion of a sharp *trocar. It has an outer cutting sheath and an inner spring-loaded gas-transmitting safety sheath and is inserted into the abdomen either in the midsagittal plane at the lower margin or base of the umbilicus or at *Palmer’s point. [J. Veress (20th century), Hungarian surgeon]... veress needle
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