Immunologic functions after laparoscopic cholecystectomy|Funzioni immunitarie dopo colecistectomia laparoscopica

Trauma and surgical procedures can induce immune depression, related to the prevalent impairment of cell-mediated immunity, which may predispose to infections. The early recovery following laparoscopic cholecystectomy without infectious complications seems to be related to a lesser degree of surgical trauma and to only minimal impairment of immune functions. The present study was conducted in 20 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, all undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Blood samples taken before operation and at 3 and 6 days postoperatively were tested for lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD57+), blood chemistry parameters (IgG, IgA, IgM, CH-50, C3, C4) and haemochrome. A group of 10 normal volunteers, matched for age and sex, were also examined twice at an interval of 48 h. Student's "t"-test was used for statistical comparisons. The findings showed only minimal changes in immune functions after operation (slight increase in CD57+ cells, and very slight decreases in IgM and C4 factor) and a slow reduction of serum haemoglobin levels as compared with preoperative values. All parameters returned to baseline levels within 6 days of the operation. This study demonstrates that laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not significantly affect immune functions, suggesting that immunity is preserved in the postoperative period.