Leucocyte mobilization and function in vitro of blood and exudative leucocytes after inguinal herniotomy

The effect of surgical trauma on leucocyte mobilization in vivo and the function of blood and exudative leucocytes was studied in 15 patients after inguinal herniotomy. Mobilization of leucocytes to skin windows with chambers was reduced 48 h after anaesthesia (P less than 0.01) compared with 21 healthy volunteers. Blood leucocyte chemotaxis was reduced during the period of anaesthesia (P less than 0.05). Serum independent phagocytosis was increased from 24 h after anaesthesia (P less than 0.01) but without a corresponding increase in the serum dependent phagocytosis. The oxidative metabolic activity of resting leucocytes in terms of Nitro Blue Tetrazolium (NBT) reduction decreased 24-48 h after anaesthesia without any change in NBT reduction during phagocytosis. In contrast, exudative leucocytes exhibited reduced phagocytosis independent of serum factors (P less than 0.05) and increased NBT reduction by resting leucocytes. It is concluded that a diminished accumulation of leucocytes as inflammatory lesions occurs postoperatively and that changes in the function of circulating leucocytes do not always reflect the changes in function of the exudative leucocyte.