Study objectives: To investigate whether oxidative stress occurs following lobectomy and pneumonectomy and to evaluate whether markers of oxidative stress might be of value in the assessment of the diagnosis, course, and prognosis of postoperative complications.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: A specialized thoracic surgical unit in a large referral hospital.
Patients: Twenty-eight patients with lung carcinoma undergoing thoracotomy.
Measurements: Exhaled H(2)O(2) concentrations in breath condensate were measured by spectrophotometry, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in urine samples collected every 24 h were measured by reversed-phase, ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection.
Results: Our results show increased H(2)O(2) and MDA levels in lobectomy patients compared with pneumonectomy patients. A strong correlation was found between the levels of H(2)O(2) and MDA.
Conclusion: The present data support the hypothesis that oxidative stress may occur following pulmonary resection.