EFFECTS OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY ON HYPOCHLOROUS ACID PRODUCTIONBY NEUTROPHILS

The production of chlorinated oxidants such as hypochlorous acid is a central antimicrobial and immunoregulatory function of neutrophils. Ne utrophil hypochlorous acid production was compared in patients undergo ing uncomplicated laparoscopic surgery (group 1) and those submitted t o conventional open surgery (group 2). Preoperative peak hypochlorous acid production was similar in the two groups (mean(s.e.m.) 0.60(0.05) versus 0.69(0.06) nmol/min respectively). In group 2, mean(s.e.m.) ne utrophil hypochlorous acid production fell significantly on day 1 afte r surgery (0.36(0.05) nmol/min; P<0.01) but this did not occur in grou p 1 (0.63(0.07) nmol/min). By day 6 hypochlorous acid kinetics had ret urned to preoperative levels in both groups. Minimally invasive surger y is less disruptive of neutrophil function than conventional open pro cedures.