Splenectomy is associated with altered leukocyte kinetics after severe trauma.

Background: Inadequate activation of the innate immune system after trauma can lead to severe complications such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome. The spleen is thought to modulate the cellular immune system. Furthermore, splenectomy is associated with improved outcome in severely injured trauma patients.

Instant intra-operative neutropenia despite the emergence of banded (CD16/CD62L) neutrophils in peripheral blood - An observational study during extensive trauma-surgery in pigs.

Introduction: Deregulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) is an essential step in the development of inflammatory complications upon trauma. Different neutrophil subtypes have been identified recently, however, the role of neutrophil subtypes in immunoregulation upon trauma is unclear. We hypothesize that extensive trauma surgery causes instant progressive heterogeneity of the blood neutrophil pool, and increased appearance of young (CD16/CD62L) neutrophils in peripheral blood.