Apparatus (1) comprising an insufflator (10) for insufflating a cavity (2) in the body of a human or animal subject during a laparoscopic procedure comprises a compressed air vessel (12) and a flow control valve (16) for delivering the insufflating air to the cavity through a first trocar (5). A discharge control valve (32) located at an outlet port (30) of a second trocar (6) exhausts insufflating air from the cavity (2). A pressure sensor (40) located on the first trocar (5) monitors pressure in the cavity (2). A microcontroller (18) reads signals from the pressure sensor (40) and operates the flow control valve (16) for maintaining the pressure of the insufflating air in the cavity (2) at a predefined working pressure. A foot operated switch (35) operable by a surgeon when a cauterisation procedure is being carried out in the cavity (2) for operating the discharge control valve (32) from a closed state to an open state. In response to the pressure in the cavity (2) dropping below the predefined working pressure the flow control valve (16) increases the supply of insufflating air to the cavity (2), thereby increasing the flow of insufflating air through the cavity (2) for removing smoke and other undesirable gases resulting from the cauterisation procedure. The apparatus (1) and insufflator (10) may also be adapted for removing nitrogen gas from the cavity (2) resulting from a cryogenic procedure.L'invention concerne un appareil (1) comprenant un insufflateur (10) utilisé pour gonfler une cavité (2) dans le corps d'un sujet humain ou animal pendant une procédure laparoscopique, comportant un réservoir d'air comprimé (12) et une soupape de régulation de débit (16) destinée à envoyer l'air d'insufflation dans la cavité par un premier trocart (5). Une soupape de régulation d'évacuation (32) située au niveau d'un orifice de sortie (30) d'un second trocart (6) évacue l'air d'insufflation en dehors de la cavité (2). Un capteur de pression (40) situé sur le premier troca
