A comparative study between conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Evaluation of phagocytic and T-cell-mediated antibacterial activities

Over the past few years, many reports have pointed out that open, but not minimally invasive, cholecystectomy was associated with reduced immune functions. Also, after laparoscopic surgery, a reduced impairment of T cell functions and lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were found in comparison with those detected in patients who underwent conventional cholecystectomy. We investigated polymorphonuclear cell- and monocyte-mediated phagocytosis and killing and T-cell-mediated antibacterial activity in 12 patients who underwent open cholecystectomy versus another group of 12 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our data show that polymorphonuclear and monocyte killing activities are preserved or are less affected in patients who undergo laparoscopy when compared with patients who undergo conventional operation. On the other hand, in both groups of patients, T-cell-mediated antibacterial activity was significantly reduced in the preoperative period, and, therefore, we could not draw conclusions on the effects of the surgical techniques used on the above immune parameter. The overall data suggest that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a valid alternative to open surgery because of the moderate postoperative immune suppression and decreased risk of postsurgical infections.