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BackgroundPost-operative infections are a common cause of morbidity following major surgery. Little is understood about how major surgery perturbs immune function leading to heightened risk of subsequent infection. Through analysis of paired blood samples obtained immediately before and 24 h following surgery, we evaluated changes in circulating immune cell phenotype and function across the first 24 h, to identify early immune changes associated with subsequent infection.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study of adult patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal, gynecological, or maxillofacial surgery requiring planned admission to the post-anesthetic care unit. Patients were followed up to hospital discharge or death. Outcome data collected included mortality, length of stay, unplanned intensive care unit admission, and post-operative infections (using the standardized endpoints in perioperative medicine–core outcome measures for perioperative and anesthetic care criteria). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated prior to and 24 h following surgery from which cellular immune traits including activation and functional status were assessed by multi-parameter flow cytometry and serum immune analytes compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsForty-eight patients were recruited, 26 (54%) of whom developed a post-operative infection. We observed reduced baseline pre- and post-operative monocyte CXCR4 and CD80 expression (chemokine receptors and co-stimulation markers, respectively) in patients who subsequently developed an infection as well as a profound and selective post-operative increase in CD4+ lymphocyte IL-7 receptor expression in the infection group only. Higher post-operative monocyte count was significantly associated with the development of post-operative infection (false discovery rate < 1%; adjusted p-value = 0.001) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (p < 0.0001).ConclusionLower monocyte chemotaxis markers, higher post-operative circulating monocyte counts, and reduced co-stimulatory signals are associated with subsequent post-operative infections. Identifying the underlying mechanisms and therapeutics to reverse defects in immune cell function requires further exploration.

Objective: Inpatient treatment of hematological cancer is among the most physically and mentally arduous cancer treatments, and it is associated with a number of common physical, emotional, and social symptoms that can negatively affect quality of life (QOL) for years following treatment. While treating symptoms during hospitalization holds promise for improving long-term QOL, successful approaches likely require multidisciplinary interventions. In this article, we describe a 4-year effort in program enhancement that incorporated an adjunctive single yoga therapy session during treatment for hematological malignancies. Methods: Hospitalized patients receiving treatment for hematological cancer (N = 486) were provided a 40-minute individualized yoga therapy session. We evaluated feasibility and acceptance by quantifying the percentage of patients who discontinued the yoga session due to pain, discomfort, or another reason, and by comparing the intervention population to the demographic makeup of the unit more generally. Patient-reported symptoms were obtained before and after each session, and we evaluated acute symptom change for the entire sample and in subsamples that are less likely to use mindfulness-based interventions such as yoga. Results: The majority of sessions (87%) were completed, and the majority of unfinished sessions were interrupted by a medical procedure or because the patient fell asleep. No session was stopped early due to patients’ reported pain. Significant decreases were reported in all symptoms, with the greatest decrease in fatigue and anxiety. Conclusions: Yoga therapy was a feasible and effective nondrug adjunct intervention for hospitalized patients receiving treatment for hematological cancer, including bone marrow transplantation.