Perioperative alteration of neutrophil functions after open heart and other major surgeries. A comparative study.

The prolonged effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on neutrophil functions, as indicated by the capacity to produce superoxide and leukotrienes, were examined on the first postoperative day in ten patients who underwent open heart surgery and ten who underwent other major surgery. The superoxide and leukotriene C4 producing capacities of the neutrophils were significantly decreased postoperatively in both groups. The leukotriene B4 producing capacity, by contrast, was significantly increased postoperatively. However, there was no significant difference in values between the two groups in the pre- and postoperative periods. In both groups, neutrophil functions were significantly altered on the first postoperative day, but no specific alteration due to open heart surgery was observed.