Measurement of anaphylatoxin activity during surgery

We studied whether or not anaphylatoxins (ATs) are related to stress-related surgery by examining AT measurement in 51 patients undergoing operation. C3a plasma levels in patients who underwent the Caldwell-Luc operation increased from a pre-surgery concentration of 129 +/- 19 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml to 293 +/- 91 ng/ml during surgery under local anesthesia. However, pre- and post-surgery values were almost the same. No significant change occurred in the C5a plasma concentration at any time in patients undergoing the Caldwell-Luc operation, tonsillectomy or partial glossectomy. The mechanism underlying elevation in C3a during surgery is discussed.