Preventive effect of ulinastatin on postoperative complications, immunosuppression, and recurrence in esophagectomy patients

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the potential efficacy of preventive effect of ulinastatin in esophagectomy patients.MethodsEighty patients with esophageal cancer were preoperatively allocated at random into two equal groups. Ulinastatin was administered to the treatment group (U) whereas the control group (C) received a placebo. The arterial oxygen tension and carbon dioxide tension were measured and the respiratory index (RI) was calculated. Plasma levels of circulating T lymphocyte subsets and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured and clinical courses of patients in the two groups were compared.ResultsRI in the U group was significantly lower than that in the C group. The rate of postoperative complications and the duration of ICU stay were significantly lower in the U group. Ulinastatin significantly increased the rate of CD3+ and CD4+ cells, and ratio of CD4+/CD8+, but decreased the rate of CD8+ cells and release of IL-6 compared to the C group on postoperative days 1 and 3. Patients within the C group showed worse recurrence free survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that ulinastatin administration significantly decreased the incidence of recurrence.ConclusionsUlinastatin had a preventive effect on postoperative complications and immunosuppression in esophagectomy patients, thereby prolongingrecurrence free survival.

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