This movement is focused on growing awareness and professional support for low-pressure insufflation as an important perioperative issue for anesthesiologists. The goal is to encourage broader dialogue, highlight the clinical rationale, and support consideration of future consensus guidelines that reflects the role insufflation pressure plays in respiratory mechanics, anesthetic management, and recovery.
RAISING THE STANDARDS
LOWERING THE PRESSURE
Low pressure supports stable pneumoperitoneum, helping anesthesia teams reduce unnecessary physiologic burden without compromising visualization.
Make low-pressure insufflation the standard anesthesiologists can stand behind:
Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum has the potential to make laparoscopy and robotic surgery easier on patients and more manageable for anesthesia. When surgical exposure can be maintained at lower intra-abdominal pressures, anesthesiologists may see meaningful improvements in respiratory mechanics, CO2 management, and postoperative recovery.
Consistent pressure stability is the enabling factor for safely lowering intra-abdominal pressure.1
The data raises an important question:
Why is 15 mmHg the standard of care?
Clinical studies suggest utilizing low-pressure insufflation improves anesthesia parameters and reduces postoperative pain. Improving ventilatory burden and CO2 retention without compromising operative workflow.2,3,4
Pressure-Related Physiologic Stress
Elevated intra-abdominal pressure contributes to:
- Cephalad diaphragmatic displacement2
- Reduced respiratory compliance2,3
- Increased peak and plateau airway pressures3,4
- Increased CO₂ absorption and retention4,6
- Increased ventilatory and hemodynamic intervention3,5
Improved Outcomes at Lower Pressure
In a pressure-gradient cohort (15 → 12 → 10 → 8 mmHg), progressive reductions in pressure were demonstrated with:
- Lower peak inspiratory pressure3
- Reduced tidal volumes3
- Reduction in postoperative pain8
- Shorter PACU stay4,8
- Reduced operative time5
Choose a topic to learn more:
Respiratory Physiology
Hemodynamic Response
Recovery Outcomes
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Surgical Feasibility
Consistent pressure stability is the enabling factor for safely lowering intra-abdominal pressure.
Clinical Study Library
Explore published evidence that demonstrates physiologic benefits when pressure is lowered.
Richards
Abaza & Ferroni
Covotta
Desroches
Landman
Mottrie & Vandenbroucke
Badani
Xu
Siddiqui
Benifla
Huang
Buda
Akingboye
Join the movement to lower pressure
Anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and perioperative leaders are invited to participate in an ongoing collaborative discussion focused on intra-abdominal pressure as an important physiologic variable.