Are antioxidant levels measured immediately postoperatively an indicator of magnitude of injury?
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the changes that occur in antioxidant levels in response to surgical trauma. The antioxidant system may influence recovery and healing after operation. Miller et al described a reliable assay for total antioxidant capacity of serum. We studied changes in antioxidant levels secondary to operation using this assay.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients were studied: 14 abdominal and 13 breast cancer operations. Initial blood samples were obtained when starting the preoperative intravenous line, the second in the recovery room, and every 6 hours thereafter.


RESULTS
Levels did not correlate with diagnosis, extent of operation, age, body mass index, or complications. Differences between preoperative and postoperative values in the down and up groups were significant at P = 0.002 and P = 0.023, respectively. Differences in initial levels between the down and up groups were significant at P = 0.005. Levels 12 hours after operation were stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid return to a baseline of approximately 1 micromole/L, regardless of the direction of initial response, supports the concept of a set point for regulation of serum's antioxidant capacity.
Morris
D M
DM
Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
Smith
H O
HO
Liu
W
W
Genesen
M C
MC
Vander Jagt
D H
DH
Glew
R H
RH
Fry
D E
DE
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers