Role of L-selectin in the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients after major surgery.
BACKGROUND
The circulating level of soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) has been reported to be low in adult respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury. This study explores the role of L-selectin in the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing major surgery.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients who underwent esophagectomy were maintained by mechanical ventilation in a surgical intensive care unit. Fourteen patients developed VAP by postoperative day (POD) 7, while 20 patients did not. The plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecules and elastase were measured serially by ELISA or EIA. The expression of L-selectin on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) was analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
In multiple logistic regression analysis, only the preoperative plasma level of sL-selectin was significantly associated with VAP. The plasma sL-selectin level before surgery was significantly lower in the patients who developed VAP compared with the patients who did not develop VAP. After surgery, the level of sL-selectin did not change. The plasma level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 increased in the patients with and without VAP. The plasma level of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was significantly higher in the patients with VAP. L-selectin expression on PMNs showed a peak on POD 2 in the patients without VAP, whereas it was impaired in the patients with VAP.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of the preoperative plasma level of sL-selectin may help to identify patients at high risk for VAP after esophagectomy.
Department of Surgery I, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan.
Koji
K
Sasajima
Masahiko
M
Onda
Masao
M
Miyashita
Tsutomu
T
Nomura
Hiroshi
H
Makino
Hiroshi
H
Maruyama
Takeshi
T
Matsutani
Ryouhei
R
Futami
Hiroyuki
H
Ikezaki
Shin-hiro
SH
Takeda
Kenji
K
Takai
Ryo
R
Ogawa
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D012995:Solubility; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019041:L-Selectin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase