Enhancement of neutrophil chemiluminescence after elective gastrointestinal surgery

Neutrophil count and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence were measured pre-operatively and on the second, sixth and ninth days after operation in nine patients undergoing major, elective gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that elective surgery as a form of injury has no prolonged deleterious effect on neutrophil activity in non-septic patients. A significant increase in neutrophil count was demonstrated in all patients at Day 2 (P less than 0.01) and Day 9 (P less than 0.01). Neutrophil chemiluminescence increased on Day 2 and Day 6, the increase on Day 6 being significant (P less than 0.02). In the first 9 days after elective gastrointestinal surgery, a biphasic neutrophilia occurs and the metabolic response of neutrophils to an opsonized particle is not impaired. These data would support the hypothesis that major elective surgery has no deleterious effects on neutrophil activity, and indeed that neutrophil activity may be enhanced.