Operation is always connected with trauma and inflamation,humoral and metabolic response.Neutrophils are the basic component of the immunological system.One of the methods allowing to dynamically assess whole blood neutrophil activity is chemiluminescence assay.The aim of this study is assessment of the influence of general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy on whole blood chemi- luminescence.Thirty two patients were enrolled into the study (11 men,21 women),aged 26 –69 years (average 53.1 years).Anaesthesia was induced by propofol (2 mg/kg b.w.),muscle relaxation achieved with atracurium (0.5 mg/kg b.w.).Tracheal intubation was performed, maintenance included nitrous oxide (66%)in oxygen,fentanyl (5 µg/kg b.w./hour)and atracurium (0.6 mg/kg b.w./hour). Blood samples were collected: immediately before the anesthesia induction (T 1 ),one hour after induction (T 2 )and 5 minutes after extubation (T 3 ).The basal (bCl)and fMLP-induced whole blood chemiluminescence was measured according to Kukovetz at al. Statistical analysis of obtained data was performed with Shapiro-Wilk, U Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. No significant changes both in basic chemiluminescence and after stimulation (calculation made for 10 4 neutrophils)were found,which shows that there is no increase in neutrophil activity during the anesthesia and surgery.

Keywords: anasthesia, Nitric Oxide, Free Radicals, Neutrophils, chemiluminescence, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy