Cytokine response in the postoperative period after surgical treatment of benign adnexal masses: comparison between laparoscopy and laparotomy

Background Cytokines are the main mediators of the inflammation and the response to trauma. The purpose of the present study was the comparative assessment in sera of patients with benign adnexal masses treated by laparoscopy or laparotomy of the following proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 in the early postoperative period. Methods A total of 40 patients with benign adnexal masses were studied; 25 of whom underwent laparoscopy and 15, laparotomy. Blood serum concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-10 were measured by commercially available ELISA assays before and 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after the operation. Results Concentrations of IL-6 were significantly increased in both groups at 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after the surgery; levels of IL-10 showed a significant increase 4 h and 24 h after the operation; an increase in IL-1β levels was observed only after laparotomy; no significant variations were observed in serum levels of IL-8; the postoperative increase of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 levels was more pronounced in patients undergoing laparotomy than in those treated laparoscopically; length of the surgical procedure, amount of CO₂ used, tumor diameter, age, and body mass index (BMI) of the patients did not influence the postoperative patterns of the studied cytokines. Conclusions Systemic cytokine response after operations for benign adnexal masses depends on the degree of the surgical trauma, and is less pronounced in patients undergoing laparoscopy.