['The necessity for general anesthesia represents an impediment to using a laparoscopic approach for some procedures that are otherwise performed with the patient under local anesthesia using a conventional open technique. Heating and humidifying the insufflation gas reportedly reduces perioperative pain associated with a CO2 pneumoperitoneum, thus enabling awake laparoscopy.', 'Two cases are reported herein of laparoscopy performed with the patient under local anesthesia using heated, humidified CO2 gas for the pneumoperitoneum.', 'Both patients experienced pain with insufflation of heated, humidified CO2 gas of sufficient magnitude that the procedure could not be performed. The CO2 gas was washed out and replaced with helium gas insufflation with complete resolution of pain. The laparoscopic procedures were accomplished without further discomfort with local anesthesia and using a helium gas pneumoperitoneum.'] Is heated , humidified CO2 gas unsatisfactory for awake laparoscopy?