Abstract
Background
Although there is increasing evidence suggesting that the vagus nerve functions as a connector between the nervous and immune systems in animals, little is known about the role of the vagus nerve in postoperative acute phase response in humans.
Materials and methods
The extent of fever and acute phase protein response and the production of inflammatory cytokine during the early postoperative period were compared among the patients who had undergone total gastrectomy including truncal vagotomy (n = 13), those having distal gastrectomy with division of vagal branches (n = 14), and the patients with vagal nerve preserving gastrectomy (n = 12).
Results
There was no significant difference in serum levels of C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antirypsin, and interleukin-6 among the three groups. Also, postoperative maximum body temperature was similar.
Conclusions
Vagotomy did not influence acute phase response after gastric cancer surgery. A multipathway mechanism for acute phase response including the induction of fever is suggested.
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Fujita, T., Yanaga, K. Clinical influence of vagotomy on postoperative acute phase response. Langenbecks Arch Surg 392, 127–130 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0099-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0099-4