Abstract
Zinc is one of the essential trace elements. However, there are few reports on the changes of serum zinc levels in the perioperative period. We retrospectively analyzed perioperative serum zinc levels in 319 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery [gastrectomy in 178 patients, colectomy in 73 patients, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in 53 patients and hepatectomy in 15 patients]. Furthermore, we analyzed the amount of zinc in urine, pancreatic juice and bile in patients undergoing PD. In the 178 patients undergoing gastrectomy, we studied the correlations between preoperative serum zinc levels and postoperative complications. The average preoperative serum zinc levels were 75.5±12.1 μg/dl; zinc levels were less than 65 μg/dl in 56 patients (17.6%). There was a positive correlation between preoperative serum zinc levels and serum albumin levels (R=0.56). Serum zinc levels were markedly decreased on the first postoperative day and recovered to preoperative levels in 7 to 14 postoperative days. Serum zinc levels of patients undergoing PD and hepatectomy decreased more than those of patients undergoing gastrectomy and colectomy. Patients undergoing gastrectomy whose serum zinc levels were under 65 μg/dl were more likely to develop postoperative complications (P=0.10). Zinc was excreted primarily into urine and pancreatic juice, with only a slight excretion in bile. Serum zinc levels in the perioperative period were markedly changed, therefore it may be necessary to conduct perioperative management, including zinc complement .
