No specific thalamic influence on cell composition, sugar or electrolytes of peripheral blood

Cellular components, blood sugar, and serum electrolyte concentrations of chloride, sodium and potassium were analyzed serially in 20 patients who underwent either stereotactic thalamotomy, frontal internal capsulotomy or subcaudate tractotomy. No significant changes were seen during the interventions either after electrical stimulation or coagulation of the target area, but 3 h after the operation the neutrophile granulocyte count was significantly raised. This reaction reached a peak by the morning of the first posoperative day. Other cellular elements, blood sugar, and serum electrolytes remained unchanged. We believe that the leukocytosis is not a specific effect of the thalamic lesions, but a nonspecific stress reaction, similar to that seen after air encephalography.