[Clinical evaluation of changes in serum zinc and copper concentrations around pulmonary operation]

Serum zinc and copper were measured in 47 patients undergoing pulmonary operation. They were divided into two groups according to the extent of the operation. Group A consisted of 32 patients with lung cancer, in whom lobectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed through the postero-lateral thoracotomy. Group B consisted of 15 patients with benign pulmonary lesion or metastatic pulmonary tumor, in whom wedge resection was performed through the axillary thoracotomy. In Group A, the serum zinc concentration most decreased 6 hours after surgery. It returned to normal level in 5-7 days and to the preoperative level within 14 days. In Group B, the maximal fall in serum zinc was at 3 hours after operation. Restoration to normal level was at 2nd postoperative day and to the preoperative level was at 5th postoperative day. The differences in serum zinc between two groups were significant (p < 0.05) from just after operation to 4th postoperative day. The degree of maximal decrease in serum zinc in Group A was more than that in Group B. Blood loss, operation time and pulmonary function did not influenced the change of serum zinc concentration in our series. These results show that degree and duration of reduction in serum zinc depends on the surgical trauma. On the other hand, no significant difference in serum copper levels was observed between two groups. The influence of pre- and post-operative pneumonia on serum zinc concentrations were followed in 3 patients. Fall and rise in serum zinc levels coincided with manifestation of and recovery from pneumonia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)