The act of blowing air, gas, or powder into a body cavity or onto a surface for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Commonly used during laparoscopic surgery where CO2 is introduced to expand the abdomen for better visualization.
From Latin 'insufflare' meaning 'to blow into' (in- 'into' + sufflare 'to blow'). Originally used in religious contexts for breathing life into something, it entered medical terminology in the 16th century for introducing substances into body cavities.
Insufflation revolutionized surgery by making minimally invasive procedures possible! By inflating the abdomen with harmless CO2 gas, surgeons can now perform complex operations through tiny keyhole incisions, reducing recovery time from weeks to days.
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