Lymphocyte function and abdominal operations. Trauma vs elective surgery.

An alteration of in vitro phytochemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation immediately following abdominal trauma has been demonstrated. In this study the results of lymphocyte transformation in 30 patients who had suffered abdominal trauma (27 laparotomies; three observed) were compared with those of 20 patients who had undergone laparotomy for elective surgical problems. Response to mitogen was measured by incorporation of tritiated thymidine as a function of lymphocyte concentration, with a constant amount of phytochemagglutinin and a standard incubation period. A saturation curve was obtained, and lymphocyte response was measured as the concentration necessary for half-maximal incorporation of the radioactive label. No alteration of in vitro lymphocyte response was present in patients after elective abdominal or abdominal wall operations. In contrast, lymphocyte transformation was markedly depressed in patients who underwent surgery following abdominal trauma.