BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the surgical stress through hormones dosages, (ACTH and cortisol) and cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma), who were operated on esophagogastric transition only with those submitted to both esophagogastric and cholecystectomy. METHODS: Thirty one patients were studied, 19 of these (group 1) were submitted to esophagogastric surgery only and 12 (group 2) had cholecystectomy procedure associated because of cholelithiasis. Blood was collected preoperatively and 24, 48, and 72 hours later at postoperative period in order to measure hormones (ACTH and cortisol) and cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma). The continuous variables were submitted to normality tests. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests with significance established at p<0.05 were applied. RESULTS: ACTH values were higher in group 1 at 24 and 48 hours. Cortisol, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma were higher in group 2, at 24 and 48 hours. There were no significant statistical differences between both groups in any of the analysis. CONCLUSION: Based on this material we can conclude that association of cholecystectomy or not with esophagogastric surgery does not increase surgical stress measured by ACTH, cortisol and cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma).
Gastroesophageal reflux; Cholelithiasis; Cholecystectomy; Hydrocortisone; cytokines; Stress