Preoperative lymphocyte subsets and infectious complications after colorectal cancer surgery

Peripheral lymphocytes, T cells, and T cell subsets of 141 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer were measured preoperatively to determine whether infectious complications could be predicted from derangements of T cell subsets. T cell subset abnormalities reportedly precede sepsis in patients with burn injuries. All patients received preoperative bowel preparation with laxatives, enemas, oral neomycin and erythromycin base, and intravenous cefazolin. Eighteen (13%) of the 141 patients had infectious complications and these complications accounted for two deaths. The variables of age, sex, tumor location, admission hematocrit, white blood count, lymphocytes, T cells (Leu-1), helper cells (Leu-3), suppressor cells (Leu-2), natural killer cells (Leu-7), operative blood loss, procedure, specimen length, duration of surgery, tumor size, tumor differentiation, nodal status, and Dukes' staging were not significantly (p > 0.05) related to the development of infectious complications. These results indicate that preoperative evaluation of T cell subsets in patients with colorectal cancer is not useful for predicting postoperative septic complications.