Effects of surgery on neutrophil granulocyte function

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• High incidence of postoperative infections suggests impaired host defense.
• Neutrophil function is critical in combating infection post-surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate neutrophil function and enzyme activity following surgical trauma.
• Determine the impact of surgery on neutrophil microbicidal capacity and enzyme levels.

Main Methods:

• Assessed neutrophil function, including microbicidal ability and phagocytosis, after elective abdominal hysterectomy.
• Measured the activity of the lysosomal enzyme myeloperoxidase in neutrophils.

Main Results:

• Neutrophil microbicidal ability was significantly reduced within 2 hours of surgery.
• Phagocytosis remained unaffected, but loss of microbicidal activity correlated with decreased myeloperoxidase levels.
• These changes are attributed to neutrophil activation and partial degranulation.

Conclusions:

• Surgical trauma temporarily impairs neutrophil microbicidal function.
• Reduced myeloperoxidase activity is linked to diminished killing capacity.
• Compensatory increases in circulating neutrophils may be necessary to overcome individual cell defects.