A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY - NEUTROPHILIC ACTIVITIES AND CYTOCHEMICAL CHANGES

Neutrophilic activity and cytochemical changes were assessed in patien ts undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conventional cholecy stectomy. Myeloperoxi-dase (MPO), acid phosphatase (AP) and leucocytic alkaline phosphatase (LAP) were used to estimate cytochemical activit y while the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction test was used to assess the phagocytic capacity of the neutrophils. No significant leu cocytosis could be detected after 45 minutes of surgery in both groups , but significant leucocytosis and higher percentages of neutrophils w ere observed at 72 hours after surgery in both groups. The pattern of leucocytosis and neutrophilia was significantly higher in the conventi onal cholecystectomy group as compared to the laparoscopic cholecystec tomy group. As regards NBT there was a significant reduction after 45 minutes followed by a significant increase after 72 hours in both grou ps. Neutrophilic enzymatic activities (MPO, AP and LAP) increased sign ificantly 72 hours after surgery in both groups. There were no signifi cant differences between the two groups in phagocytic or enzymatic act ivities. These data demonstrate that the laparoscopic approach to chol ecystectomy is associated with significantly less leucocytosis and neu trophilia without significant less leucocytosis and neutrophilia witho ut significant difference in the phagocytic or enzymatic activities of neutrophils.