Sevoflurane: an immunological safe anaesthetic agent?

ABSTRACT

In this work, evaluation of the effects of sevoflurane on some immune functions of surgical patients was tried. Assessment of the specific component of humoral immunity was carried out by estimation of serum immunoglobulins. The non-specific component of humoral immunity was assessed by estimation of the complement component C3c. Estimation of the total and differential leucocytic counts and the calculation of NBT-positive cells in "unstimulated NBT-reduction test" were used to assess the non-specific component of cell-mediated immunity. The study was conducted on 20 selected patients who underwent minor surgical procedures. Induction of anesthesia was carried out by using the single-breath inhalation technique with 8% sevoflurane, until successful insertion of cuffed oropharyngeal airway [COPA]. Anesthesia was maintained with 2% sevoflurane in a gas mixture of oxygen and N2O in a ratio of 11 via Bain circuit. The results showed that there was a decrease in levels of complement component C3c and phagocytic function under anesthesia and after surgical stimulation and postoperative. Serum Ig levels showed an increase under anesthesia and after surgery. While, there was a post- induction leucopenia. At the end of the operation and postoperatively there were significant leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopenia