Blanloeil_1996_Ann.Fr.Anesth.Reanim_15_220

As the influence of sepsis on plasma cholinesterase activity is not clearly established, plasma cholinesterase activity was measured in 30 healthy surgical orthopaedic patients, 11 patients with severe postoperative infections and 18 patients with patent cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C). Plasma cholinesterase activities were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in patients with postoperative infections (1,706 +/- 535 Ul.L-1) and in those with patent cirrhosis (1,318 +/- 538 Ul.L-1) in comparaison to healthy surgical patients (4,716 +/- 1,232 Ul.L-1). The decrease in patients with postoperative infections and in those with patent cirrhosis was similar. It remains to be assessed whether the activity of anaesthetic agents biotransformed by plasma cholinesterase is modified during severe infections.