BACKGROUND: Pain and surgical stress cause a pro-inflammatory response followed by downregulation of the immune response, which can increase the incidence of postoperative complications, such as infections or prolonged wound healing. T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells have cytotoxic potential and are crucial components of cellular immunity, which is important for maintenance of immune balance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of 3 types of postoperative analgesia on the preservation and cytotoxic potential of T lymphocytes, NK cells, and their subpopulations, as well as NKT cells, in patients after total knee replacement (TKR) to find the most effective analgesic technique for mitigating immune suppression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients scheduled for TKR were randomly allocated to Group 1 (patients received epidural analgesia), Group 2 (patients received sciatic and femoral nerve block), or Group 3 (patients received multimodal systemic analgesia). Pain intensity was assessed at rest and on movement before, immediately after, and at 24 and 72 h after surgery. Blood samples were collected at the same time points and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. The frequencies of T lymphocytes, NK cells, and NKT cells, as well as their perforin expression, were simultaneously detected and analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Patients in Group 1 and Group 2 experienced less severe pain than those in Group 3. The frequencies and perforin levels of T lymphocytes, their subsets, and NKT cells were significantly lower in Group 3 than in Group 1 and Group 2.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that regional analgesia is more effective in maintaining cell-mediated immunity and perforin expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients after TKR.

Keywords: Anesthesia and Analgesia, Immunity, Cellular, Nerve Block, Pain, Perforin