Serum immunoglobulins after surgical operations.

Serum concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA were determined before and after surgery in 38 patients Eighteen patients who were anesthetized for less than 2.5 hours showed a slight decrease of serum IgG levels on the first and third postoperative days. The fall in serum levels of IgG on the first and third postoperative days was significant in 20 patients who underwent surgical operations which lasted more than 2.5 hours. Serum IgM increased on the third and seventh postoperative days. Alterations of IgA levels were minimal. The incidence of postoperative surgical infection was much higher in the group of patients which had lengthier operations. Though the number of patients was small for statistical evaluation, a correlation was observed between serum levels of IgG and IgM and the risk of developing surgical infection. Possible mechanisms underlying these changes in serum immunoglobulins are briefly discussed. We suggest that the duration of exposure to an anesthetic agent may be more important than the severity of surgical trauma in causing alterations of serum immunoglobulins.