title: Monocyte and neutrophil activity after minor surgical stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical stress produces changes in the immune status of patients. In adults, major surgery causes immunosuppression, whereas minor operations stimulate immune responses. In children, the immunologic response to surgery has not been elucidated completely. The authors investigated the effects of minor surgery on immune response by analyzing neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen children undergoing elective minor surgery were enrolled. Blood samples were collected before the operation (at time of induction of anesthesia), at the end of operation, and 72 hours after surgery. Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity were studied using a flow cytometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phagocytosis and oxidative burst increased significantly at the end of the operation, both in neutrophils (7.4% and 14.3%, respectively) and monocytes (11.6% and 27%, respectively). The increase was only significant for monocytes (17.5%) 72 hours after surgery. White cell count did not show any significant changes. There was no significant correlation between phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and white cell count or neutrophil and monocyte count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that minor surgery in children induces immune activation by increasing neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity. Further studies are required to understand the molecular basis of these findings.
authors: Messina, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Romeo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Cruccetti
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Turiaco
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Impellizzeri
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Turiaco
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Di Bella
authors: M V
authors: MV
authors: Merlino
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Cifalà
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Basile
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Gentile
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Salpietro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000276:immunology