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Effect of anesthetic, analgesic and sedative agents on human cell phagocytosis

Abstract:

Along with preoperative stress, anesthetics per se are associated with decreased activity of the immune system. Phagocytosis is an important process where particles, such as dead cells and bacteria, are eliminated from the organism. This process is complex and involves cell chemotaxis, tissue infiltra-tion, several coordinated cellular events and the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS). Therefore, the aim of this review was to report the effects of anesthetic, analgesic and sedative agents on human cell phagocytosis. This review suggests that human phagocytosis processes are affected by main anesthetic, analgesic and sedatives agents that result in decreased chemotaxis, phagocytosis and ROS production. These effects may impair the anti-bacterial function of phagocytes. Clinical anesthesiologists should select the anesthetics and the anesthetic methods with careful consideration of the clinical situation and the immune status of patients, concerning long-term mortality, morbidity, and the optimal prognosis.