Purpose We herein investigated the influence of smoking on changes in the levels of perioperative oxidative stress after pulmonary resection.
Methods A total of 31 patients with primary lung cancer who underwent curative pulmonary lobectomy were analyzed prospectively. The degree of perioperative oxidative stress was evaluated based on the serum levels of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). The patients were divided into two groups: group A (smoking < 40 pack-years) and group B (smoking < 40 pack-years). The d-ROM and BAP measurements were obtained preoperatively, postoperatively and on the first, second, third and fifth postoperative days.
Results In all 31cases, the d-ROM values were higher on the third and fifth postoperative days than preoperatively. The extent of change in the d-ROM levels was greater in group A than in group B on the second, third and fifth postoperative days (1.05 +/- 0.159 vs. 0.920 +/- 0.205, p = 0.008; 1.20 +/- 0.233 vs. 1.02 +/- 0.186, p = 0.032; 1.34 +/- 0.228 vs. 1.07 +/- 0.200, p = 0.003, respectively). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the BAP values. The maximum increase in the d-ROM level and decrease in the BAP level negatively correlated with the amount of smoking (|r| = 0.428, p = 0.016 and |r| = 0.357. p = 0.049, respectively).
Conclusions Surgical stress associated with pulmonary lobectomy induces oxidative stress. In addition, smoking reduces the oxidative stress reaction, and the degree of this change is correlated with the amount of smoking.