PURPOSE: We evaluated cell-mediated immune function after laparoscopic-assisted and open bowel resection in rats by measuring delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 120) were sensitized to 1 mg of KLH ten days before investigations. Rats were challenged preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and on postoperative day (POD) 2 with an intradermal injection of 0.3 mg of KLH and 0.2 mg of PHA (at different sites). Averages of two measures of perpendicular diameters (taken 24 and 48 hours postchallenge) were used to calculate the area of induration using the formula for the area of an ellipse, A = (D-1/2 X D-2/2) X pi. Anesthesia control animals underwent no procedure (n = 40). Open resection group underwent ligation and resection of the cecum (length = 2 cm) through a 7 cm midline incision (n = 40). In the laparoscopic-assisted resection group, under CO2 pneumoperitoneum (4-6 mmHg), the cecum was identified, dissected free, and exteriorized through a 4 mm port. The cecum was then ligated and resected extracorporeally (n = 40). RESULTS: Preoperative responses to both KLH and PHA were the same in all three groups. Furthermore, within each group, postoperative responses were similar. When groups were compared, the anesthesia group responses were significantly greater than the open resection group responses at all time points (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Laparoscopic-assisted resection group responses differed from control at only two of eight postoperative measures. Laparoscopic resection group responses were significantly greater than open resection group responses to challenge with both KLH and PHA on POD1 (P < 0.02, for both comparisons) and POD 4 (P < 0.05, for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative cell-mediated immune function is better preserved after laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection than after open resection as assessed by skin antigen testing.
