Background and objective: In polymorphonuclear leucocytes, phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity are mainly responsible for bacterial killing. We aimed to investigate the effects of anaesthesia with desflurane, sevoflurane and propofol on these functional activities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Methods: Sixty patients scheduled to have tympanoplasty surgery were studied. The patients were divided into three groups (group D, desflurane; group S, sevoflurane; group P, propofol). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium in all groups. Anaesthesia was maintained with inhalation agent or propofol. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed immediately after induction of anaesthesia and after surgical procedure by a fibreoptic bronchoscope. Leucocyte respiratory burst and phagocytic activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by flow cytometric analysis of gated leucocyte populations within 2 h after each bronchoalveolar lavage sample. Changes in leucocyte functions with time were expressed as mean fluorescence intensity.
Results: There were no significant differences in phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes within and between the groups. The respiratory burst function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes showed a significant increase after surgery in group P (P < 0.05). When we compared the differences between the three groups, we found the difference in mean fluorescence intensity as statistically significant between group P and group S.
Conclusion: This study showed that propofol anaesthesia increased the respiratory burst function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.