Randomized study of the benefits of preoperative corticosteroid administration on the postoperative morbidity and cytokine response in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether preoperative corticosteroid administration plays a role in attenuating postoperative morbidity.


BACKGROUND
There is as yet no consensus on the beneficial effects of steroids in alleviating surgical stress.


METHODS
A total of 66 patients undergoing surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer were randomly categorized preoperatively into two groups of 33 patients each. One group was administered an intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg body weight) 30 minutes before the surgery (MP group), while the other group received a placebo infusion (control group). The primary endpoint was organ system failure during the first 7 days after surgery. Comparisons of surgery-related complications, cytokine responses, and blood counts were also made between the two groups.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients in the MP group who had one or more organ system failures was 33%, significantly lower than the corresponding percentage of 61% in the control group. The surgery-related complication rate and long-term survival rate were similar in the two groups. The peak plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly lower in the MP group than in the control group. Changes in the plasma levels of IL-10 were significantly larger in the MP group. No significant differences in the circulating lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were observed between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that prophylactic administration of corticosteroids is associated with a decrease in postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing invasive surgery. The laboratory data suggest that corticosteroids may attenuate surgical stress-induced inflammatory responses both directly by suppressing the release of proinflammatory cytokines and via inducing IL-10 synthesis.
Sato
Nobuhiro
N
Department of Surgery I, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan. satonobu@iwate-med.ac.jp
Koeda
Keisuke
K
Ikeda
Kenichiro
K
Kimura
Yusuke
Y
Aoki
Kiichi
K
Iwaya
Takeshi
T
Akiyama
Yuji
Y
Ishida
Kaoru
K
Saito
Kazuyoshi
K
Endo
Shigeatsu
S
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone