[Hypoferremia following surgery: a defense mechanism after operative trauma]

The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between the serum iron level and defensive function by observing the iron metabolic change following surgical operation, including serum iron, serum ferritin, and urinary iron excretion of TPN patients, and by measuring the NBT test of neutrophilic leukocyte and the level of serum immunoglobulins simultaneously. Thirty surgical patients were studied (10 cholecystectomies, 10 modified radical mastectomies, and 10 subtotal gastrectomies). Following surgical operation, the serum iron level dropped significantly as the result of the stress of operation rather than blood dilatation or urine iron excretion. Both serum ferritin level and the NBT test of neutrophils increased significantly. These results showed that the serum iron may be related to the phagocytic function of neutrophils. Hypoferremia following surgical operation may be a defensive mechanism to prevent postoperative infection.