Related Experiment Videos
Changes in serum zinc during and after surgical procedures
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1977
Summary
Serum zinc levels drop significantly after major surgery but remain stable after minor procedures. Zinc levels return to normal within 2-3 days post-operation, with a more pronounced initial decrease in older patients.
Area of Science:
- Surgical outcomes and patient recovery
- Clinical biochemistry and trace element analysis
Background:
- Surgical trauma can impact various physiological markers.
- Understanding the role of micronutrients like zinc during the perioperative period is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in serum zinc levels in patients undergoing different types of surgery.
- To determine the time course of serum zinc level alterations and recovery post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Serum zinc levels were monitored in 49 patients.
- Patients underwent either minor surgery (e.g., hernia repair) or major surgery (e.g., SPV, cholecystectomy).
- Measurements were taken during and after surgical procedures.
Main Results:
- Major operative trauma (SPV, cholecystectomy) led to a significant decrease in serum zinc.
- Minor surgery (hernia repair) did not significantly alter serum zinc levels.
- The most pronounced drop in serum zinc occurred 6 hours post-operation, with levels normalizing within 2-3 days.
- Older patients exhibited a more pronounced decrease in serum zinc, but recovery time was similar to younger patients.
Conclusions:
- Major surgery causes a transient but significant decrease in serum zinc.
- Serum zinc levels are a sensitive indicator of operative trauma severity.
- Monitoring and potential supplementation of zinc may be considered in patients undergoing major surgery.