Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of neutrophil elastase inhibitor on postoperative cytokine levels in patients after esophagectomy.
Methods: Fifteen patients were divided into two groups; group 1: 9 patients receiving neutrophil elastase inhibitor (0.2 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) from the admission to ICU to extubation), group 2: 6 patients as a control. We measured neutrophil elastase activity, interleukin 1-beta, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 preoperatively, just after the admission to ICU, and 24, 48 and 72 hours after the surgery.
Results: There were significant differences in neutrophil elastase activity and interleukin 8 in group 1 24 hours after the surgery, compared with those in group 2. The time necessary for mechanical ventilation in group 1 was shorter than that in group 2 (group 1: 44.7 +/- 24.7 hrs, group 2: 112.8 +/- 90.3 hrs, P = 0.048).
Conclusions: The administration of neutrophil elastase inhibitor may be useful for patients after esophagectomy to reduce overexpression of plasma cytokine levels after surgery.