The carboxytherapy opportunities in surgery

The carbon dioxide of the body is the most important natural regulator of respiration, blood circulation, metabolism, electrolyte balance, nervous system excitability, smooth muscle tonus. Carboxytherapy is based on the use of carbon dioxide. It is an effective and safe method of many diseases’ treatment due to its rich pharmacodynamics. Inhalation of CO2 is used in resuscitation and anesthesiology practice. Another area of CO2 application in surgery is intra‑abdominal insufflation for all endoscopic laparoscopic procedures. Carbon dioxide is quickly absorbed by the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, which causes an increased interest in its use as an insufflation agent for all endoscopic procedures. In addition, CO2 has antispasmodic, analgesic, anti‑inflammatory and antiseptic effects, which is important for these diagnostic measures. CO2 insufflation during a colonoscopy causes less post‑procedure pain and distension of the intestine without significant changes in pCO2 compared to air one. An additional mechanism for pain reducing after the CO2 procedure may be the vasodilating effect of CO2 and its spasmolytic action on the wall in the enlarged part of the colon. For the past 50 years, CO2 has been used in cardiothoracic surgery to remove air from the surgical area, which reduces the air embolism probabily during heart surgery. Recently, heated and hydrated CO2 insufflation is used as a method to reduce the infections rate at the surgery site in an open wound. A carbon dioxide laser has physical, biological and surgical properties valuable for the surgeon. Carbon dioxide is also used as an alternative diagnostic contrast agent. Therefore, CO2 due to its antibacterial, antihypoxic, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant properties and the side effects absence is an important component of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in surgery, anesthesiology, gynecology, dermatology and other fields of medicine.