Effects of surgery, general anesthesia, and perioperative epidural analgesia on the immune function of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Juan P. Cata, Maria Bauer, Telemate Sokari, María F. Ramirez, David Mason, Gregory Plautz, Andrea Kurz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Study Objective To assess preoperative and postoperative immune function in patients undergoing surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer during general anesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia. Design Observational single-center study. Setting University-affiliated academic center. Patients 24 adult, ASA physical status 3 and 4 patients with stage 1, 2, or 3 non-small cell lung cancer. No study patient received preoperative chemotherapy or radiation. Interventions Patients underwent thoracotomy with general anesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia. Measurements Bispectral index monitoring, sevoflurane requirements, and intraoperative transfusions were recorded. Total fentanyl consumption and pain (verbal numeric rating scale) were recorded 24 hours after surgery. Preoperative and 24-hour postoperative natural killer cell percentage and function and percentages of natural killer T cells, T helper cells (CD4 +), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8 +) were measured. Plasma concentrations of the TH1 cytokine interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma and the TH2 cytokines interleukin-4 were measured at the same time points. Results The percentage (preoperative, 13.07 ± 9.81% vs postoperative, 9.6 ± 6.57%, P < 0.001) and function (preoperative, 31.61 ± 21.96%; postoperative, 13.61 ± 9.36%; P < 0.001) of natural killer cells was significantly decreased after surgery, but the percentage of natural killer T cells, T helper cells (CD4 +), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8 +) remained unchanged postoperatively; thus, the CD4/CD8 ratio remained unchanged. Postoperative plasma concentrations of the three cytokines were similar to preoperative levels; therefore, the TH1/T H2 ratio also remained unchanged. Conclusions Innate immunity is depressed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after surgical resection, and immunity is not preserved by the use of postoperative epidural analgesia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)255-262
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Anesthesia
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Analgesia, epidural
  • Anesthesia
  • Innate immunity
  • Lung cancer
  • Natural killers non-small cell lung cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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