Background: Laparoscopy induces an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury that elicits the production of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to test whether laparoscopic preconditioning (LP) could change hepatic inflammatory response.
Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Spraque Dawley rats were assigned into one of three experimental groups: the control group (C) was subjected to sham operation; the I/R group was subjected to 60 minutes of pneumoperitoneum followed by 45 minutes of desufflation; and the ischemic preconditioning (IP) group was subjected to preconditioning prior to the induction of I/R. Preconditioning was defined as two cycles of 5 minutes of pneumoperitoneum followed immediately by 5 minutes of desufflation. Hepatic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were evaluated as an inflammatory response.
Results: Hepatic TNF-alpha levels increased in the I/R group compared with the C group (9.64 +/- 0.77 pg/mg protein vs. 6.53 +/- 0.48 pg/mg protein, P < 0.01). The decreased TNF-alpha levels in the IP group were not statistically significant when compared to the I/R group (8.09 +/- 0.74 pg/mg protein). Hepatic IL-6 levels increased in the I/R group compared to the C group (4.17 +/- 0.31 pg/mg protein vs. 2.93 +/- 0.20 pg/mg, P < 0.05). IP reduced the hepatic IL-6 levels significantly compared to the I/R group (3.31 +/- 0.22 pg/mg protein vs. 4.17 +/- 0.31 pg/mg protein, P <0.05).
Conclusion: Laparoscopy induces cytokine response in various organs including the liver. LP could alter the production of cytokines prior to sustained laparoscopic procedures. Preconditioning may be advisable, especially for elderly or other patients with hepatic, renal, or cardiac dysfunction. Further studies are needed to adapt this concept to clinical settings.