[Changes in cellular and humoral immunity in the postoperative period (author's transl)].

The decrease of E-rosettes forming lymphocytes in infants and children after surgery indicates a temporary deficiency of the cellular immune-defence, which depends on the age of the patients and the duration of the procedure. It finds its most marked expression in newborns and infants respectively, after major abdominal surgery. Children suffering from pre-operative complications like shock, ileus or infection have lower initial values and get post-operative infections more frequently. The humoral immune-defence is not impaired, the IgM-concentrations even show a significant post-operative increase.