OPERATIVE RESECTION OF THE LIVER USING A PLASMA SCALPEL

UDC 617-089.166:(615.472.3:533.9)-089.168-07-092.9 The hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte count were determined in blood samples. The total and differential leukocyte counts and the hematocrit index also were determined. The most important parameters were calculated. The cytomorphology of the animals' bone marrow was studied: The myelogram and the total number of myelokaryocytes were counted. To obtain more illustrative results, the method of "areas" (5) was used, enabling the trends of absolute values of the differential leukocyte count and the myelogram to be represented graphically. The experimental results showed that in the course of the operation the animals developed a protective-adaptive hematological response, the realization of which involved mechanisms of redistribution and also the hematopoietic organs, especially the bone marrow. This response in the control group was very moderate in character. For instance, 1 day after the operation, when performed with an ordinary steel scalpel, a mild leukocytosis, neutrophilia with a shift to the left, and eosinope- nia developed (Fig. la, top). By the 3rd day the leukocytosis was rep ace by normocytosis. Later irregular changes took place in the .total number of leukocytes and the leukocyte formula. At the end of the 2rid week the erythrocyte count was significantly lowered, on average by 0.85.1012 cells/liter (p < 0.01). It will also be clear from Fig. 1 that neutrophilia in the peripheral blood corresponded to karyocytopenia in bone marrow puncture specimens (Fig. 1A, bottom). On the 1st day the number of myelokaryocytes fell on average by 2.57 times (p < 0.05) on account of hypoplasia of the neutrophilic and, in particular, the erythroblastic series. After 2 weeks the number of myelokaryocytes was restored. Starting with the 3rd day the number of lymphocytes in the myelogram increased significantly. Thus in the group of animals undergoing operations with an ordinary steel scalpel, changes characteristic of surgical stress developed: neutrophilic leukocytos is, a shift to the left, and eosinopenia, with short-term karyocytopenia in the bone P